Attachment

ABSTRACT

An example attachment is attachable to a game controller including a controller-side slide portion on which a controller-side operation button is provided. The attachment includes a strap and an attachment-side slide portion, the attachment-side slide portion having a first side and a second side opposite to each other in a predetermined slide direction. The attachment-side slide portion is provided on a first surface of the attachment, wherein the attachment-side slide portion is configured to slidably engage with the controller-side slide portion in the predetermined slide direction. The controller-side slide portion is insertable into the attachment-side slide portion from the first side.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/446,346, filed on Mar. 1, 2017, which claims priority to thedisclosures of Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-198338, filed onOct. 6, 2016, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-248016 filed onDec. 21, 2016, the entire contents of each of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD

The present technology relates to an attachment that can be attached toa controller.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

There are conventional attachments, which are used while they areattached to controllers. When such an attachment is used while it isattached to a controller, a strap is sometimes fastened to thecontroller (or to the attachment).

When a strap is fastened to a controller, it is desirable that it iseasy to remove the strap.

Thus, the present application discloses an attachment from which a strapcan be removed easily, and a control system including the same.

(1)

An example attachment described herein is attachable to a gamecontroller including a controller-side slide portion that includes acontroller-side first operation button.

The attachment includes a strap, an attachment-side slide portion, alock portion and an attachment-side first operation button. Theattachment-side slide portion is provided on a first surface of theattachment, the attachment-side slide portion having a first side of acenter of the attachment-side slide portion and a second side of thecenter of the attachment-slide portion opposite to each other in apredetermined slide direction, wherein the attachment-side slide portionis configured to slidably engage with the controller-side slide portionin the slide direction, and wherein the controller-side slide portion isinsertable into the attachment-side slide portion from the first side.The lock portion is on the first side of the center of theattachment-side slide portion and configured to generally prevent aslide movement, in a removal direction opposite to an insertiondirection, of the controller-side slide portion in a state in which thecontroller-side slide portion has been inserted into the attachment-sideslide portion, thereby attaching the game controller to the attachment.

The attachment-side first operation button is on a second surface whichis on a reverse side of the first surface. The attachment-side firstoperation button includes a first actuation portion. The first actuationportion is configured to move from a first position to a secondposition, thereby pressing the controller-side first operation button,in response to an operation of pressing the attachment-side firstoperation button.

With configuration (1) above, through the engagement between the slideportion of the attachment and the slide portion of the game controller,a user can easily detach the attachment (including the strap) from thegame controller. That is, with the configuration above, it is possibleto easily remove the strap from the game controller.

(2)

The attachment may further include a strap anchor to which the strap canbe fastened, wherein the strap anchor is on a portion of the attachmentwhich is on the same side of a center of the attachment in the slidedirection as the second side.

With configuration (2) above, when a user holds the game controller(i.e., the game controller with the attachment attached thereto) withthe strap put on the wrist, for example, the user can easily operate thelock portion. Then, a user can more easily remove the strap from thegame controller.

(3)

The lock portion may be at an end portion on the first side of theattachment-side slide portion.

With configuration (3) above, it is possible to effectively prevent theattachment from coming off the game controller.

(4)

The lock portion may engage with an end portion of the controller-sideslide portion of the game controller with the attachment attachedthereto.

With configuration (4) above, it is possible to effectively prevent theattachment from coming off the game controller.

(5)

The lock portion may be configured to move between a third position anda fourth position in a direction different from the slide direction. Thelock portion in the third position may protrude more than the projectionin the fourth position, thereby engaging with the game controller withthe attachment attached thereto.

With configuration (5) above, the lock portion can assume a state inwhich the lock portion is in the first position, thereby locking thegame controller, and another state in which the lock portion is in thesecond position, thereby not locking (or not substantially locking) thegame controller. Then, a user can release the lock of the gamecontroller by moving the lock portion to the second position, and canthus easily remove the strap from the game controller.

(6)

The lock portion may be configured to move between a third position anda fourth position in a direction different from the slide direction. Atthe third position, the lock portion may block at least a part of aninsertion port on the first side of the attachment-side slide portion.At the fourth position, the lock portion may leave open the insertionport on the first side of the attachment-side slide portion.

With configuration (6) above, as with configuration (5) above, the lockportion can assume a state in which the lock portion is in the firstposition, thereby locking the game controller, and another state inwhich the lock portion is in the second position, thereby not locking(or not substantially locking) the game controller. Then, a user canrelease the lock of the game controller by moving the lock portion tothe second position, and can thus easily remove the strap from the gamecontroller.

(7)

The lock portion may be configured to move in a direction that issubstantially perpendicular to the slide direction.

Note that “substantially (in a certain state)” as used herein means toinclude cases in which that state is achieved in a strict sense and alsocases in which that state is generally achieved. For example,“substantially perpendicular” means that they may be perpendicular toeach other in a strict sense, and they may not be perpendicular to eachother in a strict sense but may be generally perpendicular to eachother.

With configuration (7) above, even when a force is applied that urgesthe game controller to move in the slide direction (more specifically, adirection in which the game controller is removed from the attachment),it is possible to reduce the possibility that the lock portion movesfrom the first position to the second position by that force. That is,even when a force is applied that urges the attachment to be detachedfrom the game controller, it is possible to reduce the possibility thatthe attachment comes off the game controller.

(8)

The attachment may further include a biasing portion that biases thelock portion in a direction from the fourth position to the thirdposition.

With configuration (8) above, with the attachment attached to the gamecontroller, the lock portion can continue to lock the game controller(even without a user holding the lock portion, for example).

(9)

The lock portion may include a slope at an end portion on the first sidethat is sloped in a direction from the third position to the fourthposition while extending toward the first side.

With configuration (9) above, a user can easily move the lock portion tothe second position by applying a force so as to push the slope towardthe second position (or toward the second side).

(10)

The lock portion may include a projection at an end portion on the firstside.

With configuration (10) above, a user is allowed to hold the projectionwith a finger or a fingernail, thus making it easier to operate the lockportion.

(11)

The attachment may further include a bottom surface portion and anelastic member. The bottom surface portion has a bottom surfaceextending from the first surface in a direction away from the firstsurface. The elastic member is provided on the bottom surface.

With configuration (11) above, since the game controller, with theattachment attached thereto, is in contact with the elastic member, itis possible, with the elastic member, to reduce the looseness betweenthe game controller and the attachment. This also reduces thepossibility that the bottom surface of the attachment damages the gamecontroller when the attachment is attached/detached to/from the gamecontroller.

(12)

The elastic member may be on the bottom surface on an opposite side fromthe attachment-side slide portion with respect to a center of the bottomsurface.

With configuration (12) above, the elastic member reduces the contactbetween the bottom surface and the game controller on the opposite sidefrom the attachment-side slide portion, which is connected to the gamecontroller. This can further reduce the possibility of the bottomsurface damaging the game controller.

(13)

The game controller may include a reverse surface, a primary surface andone or more operation section. The reverse surface opposes the bottomsurface when the attachment is attached to the game controller. Theprimary surface is a surface on an opposite side from the reversesurface. The operation section is in a predetermined area of the primarysurface. The elastic member may be at a position opposing an areacorresponding to the predetermined area on the reverse surface of thegame controller with the attachment attached thereto.

With configuration (13) above, the elastic member can be arranged at aposition corresponding to an area of the primary surface of the gamecontroller where a force is expected to be applied by a user. It istherefore possible to effectively prevent the reverse surface of thegame controller from contacting the bottom surface of the attachment.

(14)

The attachment may further include a terminal portion on the second sideof the center of the attachment-side slide portion, with a surfacethereof facing the first surface being exposed, wherein the terminalportion is electrically connected to a terminal of the game controllerwith the attachment attached thereto.

With configuration (14) above, it is possible to electrically connecttogether the game controller and the attachment, and to reduce thepossibility that the terminal comes into contact with a hand of a useror other objects.

(15)

The attachment may include a terminal and a battery configured to supplypower to the game controller via the terminal. The terminal iselectrically connectable to the game controller.

With configuration (15) above, the attachment can supply power to thegame controller to which the attachment is attached.

(16)

The attachment-side slide portion may be a rail member that extendsalong the slide direction.

With configuration (16) above, when the controller-side slide member(e.g., a slider to be described later) is inserted into the rail memberof the attachment, it is easy to slide the attachment (which can be saidto be the slide movement of the game controller).

(17)

The attachment-side slide portion may be metal.

With configuration (17) above, it is possible to improve the mechanicalstrength of the attachment-side slide portion. It is also possible toimprove the mechanical strength of the attachment itself, on which theattachment-side slide portion is provided.

(18)

An area of an operation surface of the attachment-side first operationbutton may be larger than an area of the controller-side first operationbutton.

With configuration (18) above, it is possible to improve thecontrollability of the game controller by attaching the attachment tothe game controller.

(19)

A tip of the first actuation portion may have a curved surface.

With configuration (19) above, it is possible to reduce the possibilitythat the button of the game controller is damaged by the first actuationportion.

(20)

The first actuation portion may have a cross-shaped cross section alonga plane perpendicular to a direction from the first position to thesecond position.

With configuration (20) above, it is possible to reduce the volume ofthe actuation portion while maintaining the mechanical strength thereof.

(21)

Opposite end portions of the second surface in the slide direction mayeach be a rounded curved surface.

With configuration (21) above, it is possible to provide a device thatis easy to hold for a user.

(22)

A light-receiving port may be provided on a bottom surface of theattachment-side slide portion. A light-exiting port may be provided on asurface of the attachment different from the bottom surface of theattachment-side slide portion. The attachment may include a lightguideportion configured to guide light incident upon the light-receiving portto the light-exiting port.

With configuration (22) above, even when the attachment is attached tothe game controller, the light from a light-emitting portion (e.g., anindicator LED to be described later) of the game controller can bepresented to a user, as when the attachment is not attached to the gamecontroller.

(23)

The light-exiting port may be provided on the second surface.

With configuration (23) above, the orientation of the light-exiting portof the attachment attached to the game controller is the same as theorientation of the light-emitting portion of the game controller, and itis therefore possible to present light from the light-exiting port in aneasy-to-see manner for a user.

(24)

A controller-side second operation button may be further provided on thecontroller-side slide portion. The attachment may include anattachment-side second operation button on the second surface. Theattachment-side second operation button may include a second actuationportion configured to move from a fifth position to a sixth position,thereby pressing the controller-side second operation button, inresponse to an operation of pressing the attachment-side secondoperation button. The light-exiting port may be provided on the secondsurface between the attachment-side first operation button and theattachment-side second operation button.

With configuration (24) above, even when a user operates the operationbuttons, light from the light-exiting port is easy to see for the user.

(25)

Another example attachment described herein is attachable to a gamecontroller including a controller-side slide portion.

The attachment includes an attachment-side slide portion, a lock portionand a strap anchor. The attachment-side slide portion is provided on afirst surface of the attachment, the attachment-side slide portionhaving a first side of a center of the attachment-side slide portion anda second side of the center of the attachment-slide portion opposite toeach other in a predetermined slide direction, wherein theattachment-side slide portion is configured to slidably engage with thecontroller-side slide portion in the slide direction, and wherein thecontroller-side slide portion is insertable into the attachment-sideslide portion from the first side. The lock portion is on the first sideof the center of the attachment-side slide portion and configured togenerally prevent a slide movement, in a removal direction opposite tothe insertion direction, of the controller-side slide portion in a statein which the controller-side slide portion has been inserted into theattachment-side slide portion, thereby attaching the game controller tothe attachment. With the strap anchor, a strap can be attached to aportion of the attachment which is on the same side of the center of theattachment in the slide direction as the second side.

With configuration (25) above, as with configuration (1) above, thestrap can be removed easily from the game controller.

(26)

The attachment may further include a housing with a hole. The strapanchor may be a shaft inside the housing. The attachment may furtherinclude a strap fastened to the shaft and extending out of the housingthrough the hole.

With configuration (26) above, when a user holds the game controller(i.e., the game controller with the attachment attached thereto) withthe strap put on the wrist, for example, the user can easily operate thelock portion. Then, a user can more easily remove the strap from thegame controller.

(27)

A controller-side first operation button may be provided on thecontroller-side slide portion. The attachment may include anattachment-side first operation button on a second surface which is on areverse side of the first surface. The attachment-side first operationbutton may include a first actuation portion. The first actuationportion is configured to move from a first position to a secondposition, thereby pressing the controller-side first operation button,in response to an operation of pressing the attachment-side firstoperation button.

Note that in configurations (25) to (27), the attachment may furtherinclude at least one element from configurations (3) to (24).

Note that the present specification also discloses an example controlsystem including the attachment set forth above (e.g., a control systemincluding the attachment and a game controller to which the attachmentcan be attached).

With the attachment and the control system described above, it is easyto remove the strap from the game controller.

These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages will becomemore apparent from the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an example strapattachment according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows an example game device, with which a strap attachment isused;

FIG. 3 shows an example state in which controllers are removed from amain unit;

FIG. 4 shows an example of how a strap attachment is attached to a rightcontroller;

FIG. 5 shows an example state in which a strap attachment is attached toa right controller;

FIG. 6 is a six-sided view showing an example right controller;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing a slider of an example rightcontroller;

FIG. 8 schematically shows an example cross section near a lower endportion of a slider;

FIG. 9 is a six-sided view showing an example strap attachment;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view showing an example rail member shown in FIG.9;

FIG. 11 schematically shows an example rail member as seen from theslide direction;

FIG. 12 schematically shows an example state in which a slider of aright controller is in engagement with a rail member of a strapattachment;

FIG. 13 schematically shows an example cross section near a lower endportion of a rail member;

FIG. 14 shows an example of how a lock portion moves;

FIG. 15 shows an example of how a lock portion moves;

FIG. 16 schematically shows an example operation of attaching a strapattachment to a right controller;

FIG. 17 schematically shows an example operation of detaching a strapattachment from a right controller;

FIG. 18 shows the entirety of an example strap attachment including astrap;

FIG. 19 schematically shows an example of how a button on a controlleris pressed by a button on a strap attachment;

FIG. 20 shows an example actuation portion;

FIG. 21 shows an example of how light from indicator LEDs of a rightcontroller exits light-exiting ports of a strap attachment;

FIG. 22 shows an example strap attachment according to a variation ofthe embodiment;

FIG. 23 shows an example of how a strap attachment according to avariation is attached to a right controller;

FIG. 24 shows an example of how a strap attachment according to avariation is attached to a left controller; and

FIG. 25 shows an example lock portion according to a variation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF NON-LIMITING EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 1. Outline

An attachment according to an example of the present embodiment, and acontrol system including the same will now be described. FIG. 1 is aperspective view showing the appearance of the strap attachmentaccording to.

A strap attachment 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an example attachment that canbe attached to a controller attachment, and is an attachment having astrap 65. Note that FIG. 1 only shows a part of the strap 65. A user canfasten the strap 65 to the game controller by attaching the strapattachment 1 to a game controller to be described later. Since the strapattachment 1 can be easily attached/detached to/from a game controllerby means of a slide mechanism, the details of which will be describedlater, the removal of the strap from the game controller can be madeeasier by the present embodiment. The strap attachment of the presentembodiment and a control system including the strap attachment will nowbe outlined.

(1-1: Game Device with which Strap Attachment can be Used)

First, referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, an example game device with whichthe strap attachment 1 can be used (i.e., a game device to which thestrap attachment 1 can be attached) will be described. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3each show an example game device with which the strap attachment 1 canbe used. As shown in FIG. 2, a game device 5 includes a main unit 2, aleft controller 3 and a right controller 4. The main unit 2, including adisplay 7, executes various processes of the game device 5. The leftcontroller 3 and the right controller 4 are each an example controller,to which the strap attachment 1 can be attached, and are each an inputdevice (referred to also as a “controller device”) allowing a user tomake an input. Note that the left controller 3 and the right controller4 may hereinafter be referred to collectively as a “controller”.

FIG. 3 shows an example state in which the controllers 3 and 4 areremoved from the main unit 2. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, thecontrollers 3 and 4 can be attached/detached to/from the main unit 2.The left controller 3 can be attached to the left side of the main unit2 (the x-axis positive direction side shown in FIG. 2). The rightcontroller 4 can be attached to the right side of the main unit 2 (thex-axis negative direction side shown in FIG. 2). In the presentembodiment, the strap attachment 1 can be attached to the controller 3or 4 that has been removed from the main unit 2.

Note that in the present embodiment, the main unit 2 and the controllers3 and 4 each include a slide portion, and the controllers 3 and 4 areattached (or “connected”) to the main unit 2 by means of a slidemechanism, which is formed by these slide portions. The controllers 3and 4 each include a slider as a slide portion. The main unit 2includes, as a slide portion, a rail member capable of slidably engagingwith the slider. Note that the slider of the controllers 3 and 4 will bedescribed later. Although the rail member of the main unit 2 will not bedescribed in detail, the rail member of the main unit 2 is similar to arail member of the strap attachment 1 (the details of this rail memberwill be described later) in that it is capable of slidably engaging withthe slider.

When attaching a controller to the main unit 2, a user first inserts theslider of the controller into the rail member of the main unit 2,thereby engaging the slider and the rail member with each other. Then, auser can slide the slider all the way into the rail member, therebyattaching the controller to the main unit 2.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the controller isattached to the main unit 2 from the upper side (i.e., from the y-axispositive direction side). That is, the controller is attached to themain unit 2 by inserting the slider (specifically, the lower end of theslider) into the upper end portion of the rail member. In other words,it can be said that the main unit 2 is attached to the controller fromthe lower side. This allows a user to attach/detach the controllerto/from the main unit 2 while the main unit 2 is placed on the floor,thereby facilitating the attachment/detachment.

As described above, with the game device 5 of the present embodiment, auser can hold and use the entirety of the game device 5 by attaching thecontrollers 3 and 4 to the main unit 2 or can hold and use only acontroller by removing the controller 3 or 4 from the main unit 2. Thestrap attachment of the present embodiment is used while it is attachedto a controller having been removed from the main unit 2.

(1-2: Outline of Attachment to Controller)

Next, referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, how the strap attachment 1 isattached to the controller will be outlined. FIG. 4 shows an example ofhow the strap attachment is attached to the right controller. In thepresent embodiment, the strap attachment 1 includes a rail member (thedetails of the rail member will be described later) capable of slidablyengaging with the slider of the right controller 4. Therefore, the strapattachment 1 can be attached to the right controller 4 by inserting theslider of the right controller 4 into the rail member of the strapattachment 1 in a similar manner to that when attaching the rightcontroller 4 to the main unit 2 (see FIG. 4).

FIG. 5 shows an example state in which the strap attachment is attachedto the right controller. As shown in FIG. 5, with the strap attachment 1attached to the right controller 4, the right controller 4 and the strapattachment 1 have an integral appearance (i.e., they appear as if theywere an integral unit). Therefore, a user can hold and use the rightcontroller 4 and the strap attachment 1 as an integral unit. Then, auser may hold the right controller 4 and the strap attachment 1 with thestrap 65 of the strap attachment 1 put on the wrist. Then, in asituation in which a user swings the right controller 4 and the strapattachment 1, for example, it is possible to control the distancebetween the user's hand and the right controller 4 and the strapattachment 1 within a predetermined range.

As described above, the strap attachment 1 of the present embodiment isattachable to the right controller 4. Note however that in otherembodiments, the strap attachment may be attachable to the leftcontroller 3. Note that in the present embodiment, the left controller 3has a slide member similar to that of the right controller, the detailsof which will be described later. Since the rail member of the strapattachment 1 to be described later is symmetric with respect to thecentral axis extending parallel to the slide direction (morespecifically, symmetric with respect to the opposite sides in the z-axisdirection shown in FIG. 9), it is possible, by using the rail member ofthe strap attachment 1, to realize a strap attachment that is attachableto the left controller 3. As will be described later (see “[4.Functions/effects and variations of present embodiment]”), the strapattachment may be attachable to both the left controller 3 and the rightcontroller 4.

2. Configuration of Controller

Next, referring to FIG. 6, an example configuration of the rightcontroller 4 will be described. FIG. 6 is a six-sided view showing anexample right controller. Note that the xyz coordinate system of FIG. 6represents directions in the front view ((a) of FIG. 6).

(2-1: Housing)

As shown in FIG. 6, the right controller 4 includes a housing 10. In thepresent embodiment, the housing 10 has an oblong shape (elongated in theup-down direction in FIG. 6). The housing 10 generally has a rectangularparallelepiped shape with six sides. As shown in FIG. 6, the rightcorner portion of the primary surface of the housing 10 (in other words,the front side surface, i.e., the z-axis negative direction side surfaceshown in FIG. 6) has a more rounded shape than the left corner portion.That is, the connecting portion between the upper side surface and theright side surface of the housing 10 and the connecting portion betweenthe lower side surface and the right side surface of the housing 10 aremore rounded (in other words, round-cornered with a greater radius) thanthe connecting portion between the upper side surface and the left sidesurface and the connecting portion between the lower side surface andthe left side surface.

Therefore, when the right controller 4 is connected to the main unit 2or the strap attachment 1 (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 5), the corner portionsof the device including the right controller 4 will be rounded, makingit easier for a user to hold the device.

(2-2: Slider)

As shown in FIG. 6, the right controller 4 includes a slider 11. Asdescribed above, the slider 11 is a slide portion for connecting theright controller 4 to the main unit 2 or the strap attachment 1. Theslider 11 is provided so as to protrude from the left side surface(i.e., the side surface on the x-axis positive direction side) of theright controller 4.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing the slider of the right controller.FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing the slider 11 shown in FIG. 6 as seenfrom above (i.e., from the y-axis positive direction side). As shown inFIG. 7, the slider 11 is generally shaped so that a cross sectionthereof taken along a plane perpendicular to the slide direction (i.e.,the y-axis direction) is T-shaped.

Specifically, the slider 11 includes a shaft 31 and a top surfaceportion 32. The shaft 31 is provided so as to protrude from the housing10. The top surface portion 32 is provided on the side opposite from thehousing 10 (i.e., the x-axis positive direction side) of the shaft 31.The width of the top surface portion 32 (i.e., the length with respectto the z-axis direction) is greater than the width of the shaft 31. Theend of the top surface portion 32 in the z-axis direction is located soas to protrude past (in other words, located on the outer side of) theend of the shaft 31 in the z-axis direction.

Thus, the cross section of the slider 11 taken along a planeperpendicular to the slide direction has a shape such that the width ofthe first portion (i.e., the shaft 31) protruding from the side surfaceof the housing 10 is less than the width of the second portion (i.e.,the top surface portion 32) farther away from the side surface of thehousing 10 than the first portion. With such a shape, the slider 11 inengagement with the rail member is secured so as not to come off therail member in the direction perpendicular to the slide direction (seeFIG. 13), the details of which will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, the rightcontroller 4 includes a projection 27. As shown in FIG. 7, theprojection 27 is provided so as to protrude from the side surface of theshaft 31 of the slider 11. Specifically, a hole is provided on the sidesurface of the shaft 31, and the projection 27 is provided so as toprotrude through the hole. The projection 27 can move between theprotruding state in which the projection 27 is protruding from the sidesurface of the shaft 31 and a state in which the projection 27 has movedfrom the position in the protruding state toward the inside of the sidesurface (referred to as the “retracted state”; note however that theprojection 27 does not need to be retracted completely inside the shaft31). In the present embodiment, the projection 27 is biased toward theprotruding state by means of an elastic member (referred to also as a“biasing member”) such as a spring, for example.

In a state in which the right controller 4 is attached to the main unit2 (referred to as the “attached state”), the projection 27 is used forlocking the slide movement of the right controller 4 with respect to themain unit 2. The rail member of the main unit 2 includes a cut-outportion at a position corresponding to the projection 27 in the attachedstate. Although not shown in the figure, the cut-out portion of the railmember of the main unit 2 is formed at a position similar to that of acut-out portion provided in the rail member of the strap attachment 1(the details of which will be described later) (see FIG. 10). Note thatin the present embodiment, the projection 27 is provided along the upperhalf of the slider 11 (i.e., on the y-axis positive direction side), andthe cut-out portion is provided along the upper half of the rail member.Thus, in the attached state, the projection 27 in the protruding stateis caught on the cut-out portion of the rail member. Thus, theprojection 27 is capable of generally preventing (in other words,locking) the slide movement of the right controller 4 against the mainunit 2.

As shown in FIG. 6, the right controller 4 includes a release button 28.Although not shown in the figure, a release button 28 is configured sothat the release button 28 can move in conjunction with the projection27. Specifically, the projection 27 is in the protruding state when therelease button 28 is not pressed, and the projection 27 is brought intothe retracted state in response to the release button 28 being pressed.In the attached state, when the projection 27 is in the retracted state,the projection 27 is not caught (or is not substantially caught) on thecut-out portion of the rail member. Therefore, in the retracted state,the engagement (in other words, the lock) by the projection 27 isreleased.

Thus, a user can press the release button 28 to bring the projection 27into the retracted state, releasing the lock by the projection 27.Therefore, a user can easily remove the right controller 4 from the mainunit 2 by sliding the right controller 4 while the release button 28 ispressed to release the lock.

(2-3: Input Section)

The right controller 4 includes operation sections (or “input sections”)allowing a user to perform input operations. In the present embodiment,the right controller 4 includes an analog stick 12 and buttons 13 to 23as operation sections.

The analog stick 12 and the buttons 13 to 18 are provided on the primarysurface of the housing 10. The analog stick 12 is an example of adirection input section, with which it is possible to make directionalinputs. When the right controller 4 is used detached from the main unit2, the operation sections provided on the primary surface of the housing10 are operated by the thumbs of a user holding the right controller 4.

A first R button 19 and a ZR button 20 are provided on the upper sidesurface (i.e., the side surface on the y-axis positive direction side)of the housing 10. The first R button 19 is provided over a cornerportion between the right side surface and the upper side surface of thehousing 10. The ZR button 20 is provided to extend over a corner portionbetween the right side surface and the upper side surface of the housing10 (strictly speaking, between the right side surface and the upper sidesurface as seen from the front side of the housing 10) while extendinginto the reverse surface of the housing 10. When the right controller 4is used detached from the main unit 2, and when a user holds the rightcontroller 4 in one hand, for example, the buttons 19 and 20 provided onthe upper side surface of the housing 10 are operated using the indexfinger and/or the middle finger of the user, for example.

As shown in FIG. 6, the ZR button 20 of the right controller 4 isprovided so as to project from the housing 10. That is, a portion of thereverse surface of the housing 10 where the ZR button 20 is provided(more specifically, at least a portion of the area around the ZR button20) projects past other portions of the housing 10. The ZR button 20 isprovided so as to project past the other portions of the housing 10 onthe reverse surface. Therefore, when the right controller 4 is attachedto the main unit 2 and when the main unit 2 is placed on a flat surfacein such an orientation that the reverse surface of the right controller4 opposes the horizontal flat surface, the projecting portions of thehousing 10 are in contact with the flat surface. As a result, the mainunit 2 is placed so that the upper side of the main unit 2 is slightlyraised from the lower side thereof, and it is easy for a user to see thedisplay 7.

A second L button 21 and a second R button 22 are provided on the topsurface of the slider 11. Herein, the top surface of the slider is asurface that is facing substantially the same direction as the surfaceof the housing 10 on which the slider is provided. In other words, thetop surface is a surface that opposes the bottom surface of the railmember of the main unit 2 when the controller is attached to the mainunit 2. When a user holds the right controller 4 using both hands, forexample, the buttons 21 and 22 provided on the top surface of the slider11 are operated using the index finger and/or the middle finger of theuser, for example.

The buttons 13 to 22 are used to give instructions in accordance withvarious programs executed on the main unit 2 (e.g., the OS program andapplication programs).

A pairing button 23 is provided on the top surface of the slider 11. Inthe present embodiment, the pairing button 23 is used to giveinstructions regarding wireless communication between the rightcontroller 4 and the main unit 2. Processes regarding wirelesscommunication include, for example, a setting (referred to also aspairing) process regarding wireless communication between the rightcontroller 4 and the main unit 2, and a process (also referred to as aresetting process) of disconnecting and then reconnecting wirelesscommunication.

Note that in the present embodiment, the buttons 21 to 23 provided onthe top surface of the slider 11 are provided so as not to protrude pastthe top surface. That is, the operation surfaces of the buttons 21 to 23are arranged flush with the top surface of the slider 11 or arranged ata position sunken from the top surface. This allows the slider 11 toslide smoothly against the rail member when the slider 11 is engagedwith the rail member of the main unit 2 or the strap attachment 1.

Although not shown in the figures, the right controller 4 includes anacceleration sensor and an angular velocity sensor as example inputsections in the present embodiment. The acceleration sensor detects themagnitude of the linear acceleration along directions of predeterminedthree axes (e.g., the xyz axes shown in FIG. 6). Note that theacceleration sensor may detect acceleration in one axis direction or twoaxis directions. The angular velocity sensor detects the angularvelocity about predetermined three axes (e.g., the xyz axes shown inFIG. 6). Note that the angular velocity sensor may detect the angularvelocity about one axis or two axes.

Based on the detection results of the acceleration sensor and theangular velocity sensor, the main unit 2 can calculate informationregarding the movement and/or the attitude of the right controller 4.That is, in the present embodiment, a user is allowed to perform anoperation of moving the controller itself. Note that in otherembodiments, another type of sensor may be used as a sensor (e.g., aninertial sensor) for calculating the movement, the attitude and/or theposition of the controller.

(2-4: Other Elements)

The right controller 4 includes an indicator LED 25. The indicator LED25 is an indicator section for indicating predetermined information tothe user. In the present embodiment, the right controller 4 includesfour LEDs as the indicator LED 25. For example, the predeterminedinformation may be the number assigned to the right controller 4 by themain unit 2 or may be information regarding the remaining battery levelof the right controller 4.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, the indicator LED 25 isprovided on the slider 11 (specifically, on the top surface of theslider 11). Thus, the indicator LED 25 is arranged at such a positionthat the indicator LED 25 cannot be seen with the right controller 4attached to the main unit 2, and the indicator LED 25 is used primarilywhen the right controller 4 is detached from the main unit 2. In thepresent embodiment, the indicator LED 25 is provided between the secondL button 21 and the second R button 22. Then, when a user holds theright controller 4 using both hands, for example, the indicator LED 25is arranged at such a position that it is easy to see the indicator LED25 (in other words, such a position that it is unlikely blocked by thehands of the user) for the user who operates the second L button 21using the index finger of the left hand and the second R button 22 usingthe index finger of the right hand.

The right controller 4 includes a terminal 26 via which the rightcontroller 4 is electrically connected to the main unit 2 (or the strapattachment 1). In the present embodiment, the terminal 26 is provided ina lower end portion (i.e., an end portion on the y-axis negativedirection side) of the slider 11. The present embodiment is configuredso that the terminal 26 of the right controller 4 and the terminal ofthe main unit 2 (or the terminal of the strap attachment 1) are incontact with each other in the attached state, though this will not bediscussed in detail. This enables wired communication via the terminalbetween the right controller 4 and the main unit 2 in the attachedstate.

Note that in the present embodiment, the right controller 4 has afunction of communicating with the main unit 2 in wirelesscommunication. While there is no particular limitation on thecommunication scheme between the main unit 2 and the controllers, themain unit 2 and the controllers 3 and 4 can communicate with each otherin accordance with the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard in thepresent embodiment.

Thus, in the present embodiment, the controller is capable ofcommunicating with the main unit 2 either attached to the main unit 2 orremoved from the main unit 2. For example, the controller transmits, tothe main unit 2, data representing inputs on the input sections.

FIG. 8 schematically shows an example cross section near a lower endportion of a slider. FIG. 8 schematically shows an example partial crosssection of the slider 11 taken along line A-A′ shown in FIG. 6. Notethat “to schematically show” as used herein means to show an element ofinterest (e.g., the slider in FIG. 8) in such a manner that its size,shape and positional relationship with other elements may be differentfrom other figures for the purpose of showing the element in aneasy-to-understand manner.

As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, the slider 11 includes the protrudingportion 32 a on the lower end side portion of the slider 11. Theprotruding portion 32 a is provided on the lower end side portion of theslider 11 so as to project in the slide direction (more specifically, inthe lower direction, i.e., the y-axis negative direction). Theprotruding portion 32 a is provided on a portion of the slider 11 thatis away from the housing 10 (i.e., the x-axis positive direction side).That is, the protruding portion 32 a is provided with a gap between theprotruding portion 32 a and the housing 10. The protruding portion 32 ahas an opposing surface 32 c that is facing the housing 10 of the rightcontroller 4. The opposing surface 32 c opposes a predetermined surface(specifically, the left side surface) of the right controller 4.

As shown in FIG. 8, the terminal 26 is provided on the opposing surface32 c of the protruding portion 32 a. Therefore, the terminal 26 isarranged so that one side thereof facing the housing 10 is exposed.Thus, the terminal 26 is arranged on the reverse side of the slider 11(specifically, the protruding portion 32 a). As the terminal 26 isarranged so that one side thereof facing the housing 10 is exposed, asdescribed above, it is possible to reduce the possibility that theterminal 26 comes into contact with a hand of a user or other objects,thereby protecting the terminal 26. Note that as shown in FIG. 8, thedistal end of the terminal 26 is located on the inner side of the distalend of the protruding portion 32 a (specifically, the distal end in they-axis negative direction) of the in the slide direction. This alsoprotects the terminal 26.

Note that as shown in FIG. 8, the protruding portion 32 a includes awall portion 32 b. The wall portion 32 b is provided on each side of theopposing surface 32 c with respect to a direction that is parallel tothe opposing surface 32 c and substantially perpendicular to the slidedirection (i.e., the z-axis direction). With the wall portion 32 b, itis possible to further reduce the possibility that the terminal 26 comesinto contact with a hand of a user or other objects, and thus to protectthe terminal 26 more reliably.

When the left controller 3 is attached to the strap attachment 1, astopper portion 54 (FIG. 13) of the strap attachment 1 to be describedlater is inserted into the space between the terminal 26 (in otherwords, the protruding portion 32 a) and the left side surface of thehousing 10, the details of which will be described later. Note that asshown in FIG. 8, a slope is provided at the distal end of the protrudingportion 32 a in the slide direction, wherein the slope is sloping fromthe opposing surface 32 c on which the terminal 26 is provided towardthe surface on the reverse side from the opposing surface 32 c (in otherwords, in the direction away from the left side surface of the housing10). Therefore, when the left controller 3 is attached to the strapattachment 1, the stopper portion 54 of the strap attachment 1 can bemore easily inserted into the space between the protruding portion 32 aand the left side surface of the housing 10.

As shown in FIG. 6, a window portion 29 is provided in the lower sidesurface of the housing 10. In the present embodiment, the rightcontroller 4 includes an infrared image-capturing section (not shown) todetect the hand movement and/or the gesture of the user by means of theinfrared image-capturing section. The window portion 29 is provided soas to allow the camera of the infrared image-capturing section arrangedinside the housing 10 to capture an image of around the right controller4. The window portion 29 is provided for protecting the lens of thecamera of the infrared image-capturing section, and is made of amaterial (e.g., a transparent material) that allows light of awavelength to be detected by the camera to pass therethrough.

Although not shown in the figures, the right controller 4 includes abattery and a power control circuit. The power control circuit isconnected to the battery and is connected to various sections of theright controller 4 (specifically, electronic components such aselectronic circuits that are driven by the power from the battery). Thepower control circuit controls the power supply from the battery to thevarious sections. The battery is connected to the terminal 26. In thepresent embodiment, when the strap attachment 1 is attached to the rightcontroller 4, the battery is charged by power supply from the strapattachment 1 via the terminal 26, the details of which will be describedlater.

(2-5: Configuration of Left Controller 3)

The left controller 3 is configured differently from the rightcontroller 4 with respect to the shape of the housing (the housing ofthe left controller 3 has a shape that is generally in left-rightsymmetry with the housing 10 of the right controller 4) and thearrangement of the operation sections (the analog stick and the buttons)(see FIG. 2 and FIG. 3).

On the other hand, the left controller 3 has a similar configuration tothat of the right controller 4 with respect to the slide portion(specifically, the slider). Note that the right controller 4 includesthe slider provided on the left side surface of the housing 10, whereasthe left controller 3 includes the slider provided on the right sidesurface of the housing (see FIG. 3). Note however that in the presentembodiment, the right controller 4 is the same as the left controller 3with respect to the slider and the members to be provided on the slider(specifically, the buttons 21 to 24 and the indicator LED 25).

The left controller 3 includes an acceleration sensor and an angularvelocity sensor, as does the right controller 4, and a user is allowedto perform an operation of moving the left controller 3 itself.

In the present embodiment, the second L button and the second R buttonare provided on the top surface of the slider of the controllers 3 and4. The second L button and the second R button are arranged at the sameposition on the left controller 3 and on the right controller 4 withrespect to the up-down direction (i.e., the y-axis direction).

In the present embodiment, indicator LEDs (four indicator LEDs in thepresent embodiment) are provided on the top surface of the slider ofeach of the controllers 3 and 4. The indicator LEDs are arranged at thesame position on the left controller 3 and on the right controller 4with respect to the up-down direction (i.e., the y-axis direction).

Note that for the controllers 3 and 4, there is no particular limitationon the shape, the number and the arrangement of the various elements(specifically, the slider, the stick, the buttons, the LEDs, etc.)provided on the housing. For example, in other embodiments, thecontrollers 3 and 4 may include a direction input section of a differenttype from an analog stick. The slider may be arranged at a position thatcorresponds to the position of the rail member provided on the main unit2, and may be, for example, arranged on the primary surface or thereverse surface of the housing. In other embodiments, one or more of thevarious elements described above may be absent on the controllers 3 and4.

3. Configuration of Strap Attachment

Next, referring to FIG. 9 to FIG. 21, an example configuration of thestrap attachment 1 will be described. FIG. 9 is a six-sided view showingan example strap attachment. Note that the xyz coordinate system of FIG.9 represents directions in the front view ((a) of FIG. 9).

(3-1: Elements Regarding Housing)

As shown in FIG. 9, the strap attachment 1 includes a housing 41.Although there is no particular limitation on the shape of the housing41, the housing 41 in the present embodiment includes an attachmentportion 41 a on the front side (i.e., the z-axis negative directionside) and a holding portion 41 b on the rear side (see FIG. 9(c)). Theattachment portion 41 a and the holding portion 4 lb may be an integralpart or two separate parts connected together.

The attachment portion 41 a is a portion to which the right controller 4is attached. As shown in FIG. 9, the attachment portion 41 a has anoblong shape (elongated in the up-down direction in FIG. 9). Theattachment portion 41 a has an engaging surface (in other words, theright side surface, i.e., the surface on the x-axis negative directionside) and a button provision surface (in other words, the left sidesurface, i.e., the surface on the x-axis positive direction side). Therail member 42 used for the attachment of the right controller 4 isprovided on the engaging surface. Buttons 46 and 47 are provided on thebutton provision surface. Note that since the rail member 42 is providedon the engaging surface, the housing can be said to include the railmember 42. That is, the rail member 42 can be said to be a part of thehousing.

As shown in FIG. 9, in the present embodiment, the opposite end portionsof the button provision surface of the attachment portion 41 a in theslide direction (i.e., the y-axis direction) are each a rounded curvedsurface. Then, the device including the strap attachment 1 and the rightcontroller 4 to which the strap attachment 1 is attached (hereinafterreferred to as the “strap-attached controller device”) can have roundedcorner portions (see FIG. 5). Thus, it is possible to provide a devicethat is easy to hold for a user.

On the other hand, the holding portion 41 b is a portion to be held by auser, in a state in which the right controller 4 is attached to thestrap attachment 1 (referred to as the “attached state”). That is, whena user holds a strap-attached controller device with one hand or withboth hands, and when buttons provided on the primary surface of thecontroller (i.e., the surface on the z-axis negative direction side) areoperated using the thumb, the strap-attached controller device is heldby supporting the holding portion using some of the index to littlefingers.

As shown in FIG. 9, the holding portion 41 b has a bottom surface 41 c.The bottom surface 41 c extends from the rear-side edge of the engagingsurface of the attachment portion 41 a away from the engaging surface.The bottom surface 41 c is substantially perpendicular to the engagingsurface. In the attached state, the bottom surface 41 c opposes thereverse surface (i.e., the surface on the z-axis positive directionside) of the housing 10 of the right controller 4 (see FIG. 6). In thepresent embodiment, the bottom surface 41 c is arranged so as not to bein contact with the reverse surface of the housing 10 of the rightcontroller 4 (note however that an elastic member 44 to be describedlater is in contact with the reverse surface) in the attached state.Thus, it is possible to reduce the possibility of the bottom surface 41c of the strap attachment 1 damaging the right controller 4 whenattaching/detaching the strap attachment 1 to/from the right controller4. Note that in other embodiments, the bottom surface 41 c is in contactwith the reverse surface of the housing 10 of the right controller 4 inthe attached state.

As shown in FIG. 9, the strap attachment 1 includes the elastic member44 provided on the bottom surface 41 c. The elastic member 44 isprovided at such a position that the elastic member 44 is in contactwith the right controller 4 in the attached state. The elastic member 44is provided so as to protrude (slightly) past the bottom surface 41 c(see FIG. 9(d)). Therefore, since the right controller 4 is in contactwith the elastic member 44 in the attached state, it is possible, withthe elastic member 44, to reduce the looseness between the rightcontroller 4 and the strap attachment 1, enabling a firmer connectionbetween the right controller 4 and the strap attachment 1. This alsofurther reduces the possibility that the bottom surface 41 c of thestrap attachment 1 damages the right controller 4 when the strapattachment 1 is attached/detached to/from the right controller 4.Moreover, when the right controller 4 is vibrated by a vibrator (notshown), it is possible to effectively transmit the vibration of theright controller 4 to the strap attachment 1 via the elastic member 44.It is also possible to reduce the noise (in other words, “chattering”)produced by the vibration.

As shown in FIG. 9, the elastic member 44 is provided on the bottomsurface 41 c on the opposite side from the rail member 42 (i.e., thex-axis negative direction side) with respect to the center of the bottomsurface 41 c. More specifically, the elastic member 44 is provided at anend portion of the area of the bottom surface 41 c (strictly speaking,an area of the bottom surface 41 c that opposes the reverse surface ofthe right controller 4 in the attached state) that is on the oppositeside from the rail member 42. Thus, with the elastic member 44 reducingthe contact between the bottom surface 41 c and the right controller 4on the opposite side from the rail member 42, which is connected to theright controller 4, the entire bottom surface 41 c is unlikely to be incontact with the right controller 4. This can further reduce thepossibility of the bottom surface 41 c damaging the right controller 4.

For the up-down direction (i.e., the y-axis direction), the elasticmember 44 is located so as to correspond to the operation sections(specifically, the analog stick 12 and the buttons 13 to 16) provided onthe primary surface of the right controller 4 in the attached state.Note that the analog stick 12 and the buttons 13 to 16 are thoseoperation sections that are expected to be operated frequently duringthe use of the strap-attached controller device. Specifically, theoperation sections are provided within a predetermined area (i.e., thearea A delimited by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 6) of the primarysurface of the right controller 4. On the reverse surface of the rightcontroller 4 in the attached state, the elastic member 44 is provided ata position opposing an area (i.e., an area on the reverse surface) thatcorresponds to the predetermined area (see FIG. 9). Note that the area Bdelimited by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 9 represents an area on thebottom surface 41 c that opposes the area on the reverse surface of theright controller 4 corresponding to the predetermined area. Thus, forthe up-down direction, the elastic member 44 is provided at a positionthat overlaps the area B.

Since the operation sections are expected to be operated frequently, itis believed that a force is likely acting in the front-to-rear direction(i.e., the z-axis positive direction) on the predetermined area A of thehousing 10 of the right controller 4. Therefore, without the elasticmember 44 provided on the bottom surface 41 c, the predetermined area Aof the housing 10 would likely contact the bottom surface 41 c in somecases. On the contrary, in the present embodiment, the elastic member 44is arranged in the area B corresponding to the predetermined area A, andit is therefore possible to effectively prevent the reverse surface ofthe right controller 4 from contacting the bottom surface 41 c of thestrap attachment 1.

As shown in FIG. 9, the holding portion 41 b has a projection-receivingsurface 41 d. The projection-receiving surface 41 d is a surface thatopposes the projection of the housing 10 of the right controller 4(i.e., the projecting portion provided around the ZR button 20) in theattached state. Specifically, the projection-receiving surface 41 dextends upward and diagonally rearward from the upper edge of the bottomsurface 41 c. In other words, the bottom surface 41 c is formed as acut-out portion at the upper end. The upper edge of the bottom surface41 c is located slightly downward of the projection of the rightcontroller 4 in the attached state.

With such a configuration, the projection-receiving surface 41 d opposesthe projection of the right controller 4 in the attached state. Notethat in the present embodiment, the projection-receiving surface 41 d isprovided so as not to contact the projection in the attached state inorder to reduce the possibility of the projection-receiving surface 41 ddamaging the right controller 4. Note however that in other embodiments,the projection-receiving surface 41 d may contact the projection in theattached state. In the attached state, the bottom surface 41 c can avoidthe projection of the right controller 4 by virtue of the cut-out of theprojection-receiving surface 41 d. Thus, the projection-receivingsurface 41 d enables the attachment between the strap attachment 1 andthe right controller 4 having a projection on the reverse surfacethereof. A user can operate the ZR button 20 of the right controller 4even in the attached state.

As shown in FIG. 9, the holding portion 41 b has a release buttoncontact surface 41 e. The release button contact surface 41 e is asurface that contacts (in other words, presses) the release button 28 ofthe right controller 4 in the attached state. Specifically, the releasebutton contact surface 41 e is provided at a position that opposes therelease button 28 of the right controller 4 in the attached state. Therelease button contact surface 41 e is provided on the rear side (i.e.,the z-axis positive direction side) of the bottom surface 41 c.Specifically, the distance between the bottom surface 41 c and therelease button contact surface 41 e in the front-rear direction isshorter than the length of the release button 28 in the front-reardirection in the protruding state (in other words, the length over whichthe release button 28 protrudes from the housing 10). Note that in otherembodiments, the release button contact surface 41 e may be provided atthe same position as the bottom surface 41 c in the front-rear directionor may be provided on the front side of the bottom surface 41 c.

With such a configuration, in the attached state, the release buttoncontact surface 41 e contacts the release button 28 of the rightcontroller 4, slightly pressing the release button 28. Then, in thestate in which the strap attachment 1 is attached to the rightcontroller 4, as opposed to in the state in which the right controller 4is attached to the main unit 2, the projection 27 does not enter theprotruding state and does not engage (or does not substantially engage)with the rail member. Therefore, when the strap attachment 1 is attachedto the right controller 4, a user does not need to press the releasebutton 28 in order to remove the strap attachment 1 from the rightcontroller 4. Note that when the strap attachment 1 is attached to theright controller 4, a lock portion 43 of the strap attachment 1, insteadof the projection 27, generally prevents (in other words, locks) theslide movement of the right controller 4 against the strap attachment 1,the details of which will be described later.

In the present embodiment, the holding portion 41 b can accommodate abattery. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the holding portion 41 b has abattery lid 41 f. The battery lid 41 f can be attached/detached to/fromthe main part of the holding portion 41 b (i.e., the part excluding thebattery lid 41 f). In the present embodiment, inside the holding portion41 b, a battery is placed on the inner side of the battery lid 41 f. Thebattery may be a primary battery or may be a secondary battery. A usercan replace the battery by removing the battery lid 41 f. The battery isfor supplying power to the right controller 4 to which the strapattachment 1 is attached. The strap attachment 1 supplies the power ofthe battery to the right controller 4 to which the strap attachment 1 isattached, the details of which will be described later.

(3-2: Elements Regarding Rail Member)

As shown in FIG. 9, the strap attachment 1 includes the rail member 42.The rail member 42 is an example slide portion capable of slidablyengaging with the slider 11 of the right controller 4. The rail member42 is provided on the engaging surface of the housing 41. Note that inother embodiments, the rail member 42 may be provided as an integralpart of the housing 41. That is, a part of the housing 41 may serve asthe rail member.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the rail member shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 11schematically shows an example rail member as seen from the slidedirection. As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the rail member 42 includesa bottom surface portion 51, side surface portions 52 a and 52 b andopposing portions 53 a and 53 b. Note that the side surface portions 52a and 52 b may hereinafter be referred to collectively as “side surfaceportion 52”. The opposing portions 53 a and 53 b may be referred tocollectively as “opposing portion 53”. In the present embodiment, theportions 51 to 53 are generally plate-shaped members.

The bottom surface portion 51 is placed on the engaging surface of thehousing 41 so as to be substantially parallel to the engaging surface.The bottom surface portion 51 includes a bottom surface of the railmember 42. As shown in FIG. 11, the side surface portion 52 includesside surfaces substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface. Theside surface portion 52 extends, substantially perpendicular to thebottom surface portion 51, from opposite ends of the bottom surfaceportion 51 with respect to the width direction (i.e., the z-axisdirection). Specifically, the side surface portion 52 a extends from oneend (i.e., on the z-axis negative direction side) of the bottom surfaceportion 51, and the side surface portion 52 b extends from the other end(i.e., on the z-axis positive direction side) of the bottom surfaceportion 51. As shown in FIG. 11, the bottom surface portion 51 and theside surface portion 52 together form a groove.

As shown in FIG. 11, the opposing portion 53 is provided to extend fromeach of the two side surfaces of the side surface portion 52, andincludes a surface that opposes the bottom surface. The opposing portion53 extends in a direction substantially parallel to the bottom surfacefrom an end (i.e., an end on the x-axis negative direction side) of theside surface portion 52 that is opposite to the end at which the bottomsurface portion 51 is connected to the side surface portion 52.Specifically, the opposing portion 53 a extends from an end portion ofthe side surface portion 52 a on the x-axis negative direction side, andthe opposing portion 53 b extends from an end portion of the sidesurface portion 52 b on the x-axis negative direction side. The opposingportions 63 a and 63 b are provided so as to protrude from the sidesurface portion 52 toward the inside of the rail member 42 (in otherwords, so as to protrude toward each other). The opposing portion 53 aand the opposing portion 53 b are spaced apart from each other so thatthe slider of the controller can be inserted into the groove formed bythe bottom surface portion 51 and the side surface portion 52 (FIG. 11).

FIG. 12 schematically shows an example state in which the slider of theright controller is in engagement with the rail member of the strapattachment. When the strap attachment 1 is attached to the rightcontroller 4, the slider 11 of the right controller 4 is inserted intothe groove of the rail member 42, thereby achieving a state in which therail member 42 and the slider 11 are engaged with each other as shown inFIG. 12. In this state, the slider 11 in engagement with the rail member42 is allowed to slide in the slide direction (i.e., the y-axisdirection) while being secured by the opposing portion 53 so as not tocome off in the direction (i.e., the x-axis direction) perpendicular tothe slide direction.

Note that as shown in FIG. 10, a part of the upper end portion (i.e., anend portion on the y-axis positive direction side) of the opposingportion 53 includes a cut-out portion C1. The cut-out portion C1 isprovided at a position that corresponds to the projection 27 of theright controller 4 with the strap attachment 1 attached to the rightcontroller 4. Note that as described above, in the attached state, therelease button 28 of the right controller 4 is pressed by the releasebutton contact surface 41 e, and therefore, the projection 27 does not(substantially) engage with the opposing portion 53.

As shown in FIG. 10, the rail member 42 includes the stopper portion 54.The stopper portion 54 stops the slide movement, in the insertiondirection (i.e., the y-axis negative direction), of the slider 11 of theright controller 4 inserted in the rail member 42. Specifically, asshown in FIG. 10, the upper end (i.e., the end on the y-axis positivedirection side) of the rail member 42 is open so that the slider 11 ofthe right controller 4 can be inserted therethrough. On the other hand,the stopper portion 54 is provided at the lower end portion of the railmember 42. Therefore, the stopper portion 54 comes into contact with theslider 11 being inserted from the upper side in the slide direction,thereby stopping the slide movement of the slider 11.

More specifically, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, thestopper portion 54 includes a first portion arranged on one side of anaxis (i.e., the y axis) extending along the slide direction and a secondportion arranged on the other side thereof. In the present embodiment,the first portion and the second portion are spaced apart from eachother. The gap between the first portion and the second portion is sosmall that the slider 11 cannot be inserted therethrough. Therefore,when the slider 11 is inserted into the rail member 42, the slidemovement of the slider 11 is stopped with a portion of the slider 11near the distal end thereof being in contact with the stopper portion54. Note that in other embodiments, there may be no gap between thefirst portion and the second portion. That is, the first portion and thesecond portion may be formed as an integral unit.

Note that in other embodiments, the slide movement of the slider 11 maybe stopped by the distal end of the slider 11 (specifically, the distalend of the protruding portion 32 a) being in contact with a wall surfaceprovided on the far end of the stopper portion 54 instead of (or inaddition to) the stopper portion 54 being in contact with the slider 11.

Note that in the present embodiment, the “state in which the strapattachment 1 is attached to the right controller 4 (i.e., the attachedstate)” is the state in which the slide movement of the slider 11 issubstantially limited by the stopper portion 54. Note that in additionto the state in which the slider 11 is in contact with the stopperportion 54, the attached state also includes a state in which the slider11 and the stopper portion 54 are not in contact with each other in astrict sense but the slider 11 cannot substantially move in theinsertion direction (because there is substantially no gap between theslider 11 and the stopper portion 54).

FIG. 13 schematically shows an example cross section near a lower endportion of a rail member. FIG. 13 schematically shows an example partialcross section of the rail member 42 taken along line C-C′ shown in FIG.10.

As shown in FIG. 13, the stopper portion 54 is provided, with a gapbetween the stopper portion 54 and the bottom surface portion 51, at aposition opposing a part of the bottom surface portion 51 (specifically,near the lower end of the bottom surface portion 51). The stopperportion 54 has an opposing surface opposing the bottom surface portion51. The opposing surface is a surface that faces toward the housing 41of the strap attachment 1 (in other words, the engaging surface). In thepresent embodiment, when the strap attachment 1 is attached to the rightcontroller 4, the slider 11 (more specifically, the protruding portion32 a) of the right controller 4 is inserted into the space between thebottom surface portion 51 and the stopper portion 54.

As shown in FIG. 13, the strap attachment 1 includes a terminal 55. Theterminal 55 is provided on the opposing surface of the stopper portion54. As shown in FIG. 13, the terminal 55 is arranged with a side thereoffacing the bottom surface portion 51 being exposed. Thus, in the presentembodiment, the terminal 55 is arranged on a member (i.e., the stopperportion 54) that is arranged with a gap between the member and theengaging surface (in other words, the bottom surface portion 51) of thestrap attachment 1, and on the reverse side (i.e., the side opposing thebottom surface portion 51) of the member. Then, it is possible to reducethe possibility that the terminal 55 comes into contact with a hand of auser or other objects, thus protecting the terminal 55.

In the present embodiment, in the attached state, the protruding portion32 a of the slider 11 of the right controller 4 is inserted into the gapbetween the bottom surface portion 51 and the stopper portion 54 of therail member 42 of the strap attachment 1. In the attached state, theterminal 26 provided on the protruding portion 32 a and the terminal 55provided on the stopper portion 54 are in contact with each other.Therefore, in the attached state, the strap attachment 1 and the rightcontroller 4 are electrically connected to each other.

In the present embodiment, in the attached state, the strap attachment 1supplies the power of the battery described above to the rightcontroller 4. Specifically, the strap attachment 1 includes a powersupply control section for supplying the power of the battery to theright controller 4 via the terminal 55. The battery of the rightcontroller 4 is charged with the power supplied from the strapattachment 1 via the terminal 26. Note that in the attached state, thestrap attachment 1 may supply power to the right controller 4 under apredetermined condition. For example, the strap attachment 1 may supplypower to the right controller 4 when the remaining battery level of theright controller 4 is less than or equal to a predetermined level, ormay supply power to the right controller 4 in response to an instructionfrom the right controller 4.

As described above, in the present embodiment, a user can attach thestrap attachment 1 to the right controller 4 to charge the rightcontroller 4. Therefore, when the battery of the right controller 4 isexhausted, for example, a user can attach the strap attachment 1 to theright controller 4, allowing the user to continue to use the rightcontroller 4.

Note that in other embodiments, communication may be made via a terminalbetween the strap attachment 1 and the right controller 4 in theattached state. For example, information regarding the remaining batterylevel may be exchanged between the strap attachment 1 and the rightcontroller 4 via the terminal.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the strap attachment 1includes, as the slide portion, the rail member 42 that extends alongthe slide direction. Then, when the slider 11 of the controller isinserted into the rail member 42 of the strap attachment 1, it is easyto slide the strap attachment 1 (which can be said to be the slidemovement of the right controller 4).

Note that in other embodiments, the slide portion of the strapattachment 1 does not need to be a single member extending in the slidedirection, but may include a plurality of members arranged along theslide direction. For example, the strap attachment 1 may include,instead of the rail member 42, a plurality of members having a similarcross-sectional shape (specifically, a cross-sectional shape taken alonga plane perpendicular to the slide direction) to that of the rail member42. In this case, the plurality of members are arranged along the slidedirection. Also with such a plurality of members, the strap attachment 1can slidably engage with the slider 11 of the right controller 4.

In the present embodiment, the rail member 42 is formed from metal.Then, it is possible to improve the mechanical strength of the railmember. It is also possible to improve the mechanical strength of thehousing 41 itself, on which the rail member is provided. Note that inthe present embodiment, the housing 41 is formed from a resin. In otherembodiments, there is no particular limitation on the material of therail member 42, and the rail member 42 may be formed from a resin (whichmay be a resin harder than that of the housing 41).

In other embodiments, the strap attachment 1 may include an elasticmember provided on the rail member 42. For example, the elastic memberis provided on the bottom surface of the rail member 42 so as toprotrude past the bottom surface. The elastic member may be of anyelastic material, e.g., a rubber, or may be a leaf spring of a metal ora resin. The elastic member is in contact with the slider 11 of theright controller 4 in the attached state. That is, in the attachedstate, the elastic member applies a force upon the slider 11 in thedirection away from the bottom surface of the rail member 42. Therefore,with the elastic member, it is possible to reduce the looseness betweenthe right controller 4 and the strap attachment 1, enabling a firmerconnection between the right controller 4 and the strap attachment 1.When the right controller 4 is vibrated by a vibrator (not shown), it ispossible to reduce the noise produced by the vibration.

(3-3: Elements Regarding Lock Portion)

As shown in FIG. 9, the strap attachment 1 includes a lock portion 43.The lock portion 43 generally prevents the slide movement in the removaldirection opposite to the insertion direction in the attached state inwhich the strap attachment 1 is attached to the right controller 4, thedetails of which will be described later. With the lock portion 43, itis possible to reduce the possibility of the strap attachment 1 comingoff the right controller 4.

FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 show an example of how a lock portion moves. FIG. 14is a perspective view showing a lock portion as seen from above, andFIG. 15 schematically shows an example partial cross section of thestrap attachment 1 taken along line B-B′ shown in FIG. 9. Note that inorder to facilitate understanding of elements of interest to bediscussed, FIG. 15 does not show some elements, e.g., the holdingportion 41 b, of the housing 41 that are not relevant to the discussion.

As shown in FIG. 9, the lock portion 43 is provided at an upper endportion (i.e., the y-axis positive direction side) of the rail member42. More specifically, the lock portion 43 is provided above the railmember 42. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the lock portion 43engages with an end portion (specifically, the upper end) of the slider11 of the right controller 4 in the attached state, the details of whichwill be described later. Then, in the attached state, it is possible toeffectively prevent the strap attachment 1 from coming off the rightcontroller 4. In the present embodiment, with the lock portion 43arranged above the rail member 42, there is no need to provide alock-related mechanism on the rail member 42, and it is thereforepossible to simplify the configuration of the rail member 42. Since thelock portion 43 is located at the upper end of the strap attachment 1,it is easy for a user to operate the lock portion 43.

Note that in other embodiments, the lock portion 43 may be provided at aposition of the rail member 42 other than at the upper end of the railmember 42. For example, the lock portion 43 may be provided on the upperside of the center of the rail member 42 in the slide direction. Then,the slider 11 of the right controller 4 has such a shape that the lockportion 43 can engage with the slider 11 in the attached state.

As shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, the lock portion 43 is movable in adirection other than the slide direction. In the present embodiment, thelock portion 43 is movable in a direction that is substantiallyperpendicular to the slide direction (specifically, the x-axisdirection), and is movable between the locked position and the unlockedposition (see FIG. 14 and FIG. 15).

As shown in FIG. 14(a) and FIG. 15(a), when the lock portion 43 islocated at the locked position, the lock portion 43 blocks a part of theinsertion port at the upper end of the rail member 42. The insertionport of the rail member 42 is an area surrounded by the upper endportions of the various sections 51 to 53 of the rail member 42 (inother words, the upper end of the groove described above). That is, whenthe strap attachment 1 is attached to the right controller 4, the slider11 of the right controller 4 is inserted into the insertion port. Thelocked position is a position at which the lock portion 43 protrudesfrom the bottom surface toward the opposing portion 53 of the railmember 42 (in other words, toward the x-axis negative direction side).

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 14(b) and FIG. 15(b), when the lockportion 43 is in the unlocked position, the lock portion 43 leaves openthe insertion port at the upper end of the rail member 42 (in otherwords, does not block the insertion port). The unlocked position is aposition at which the lock portion 43 does not protrude (or does notsubstantially protrude) from the bottom surface of the rail member 42.The unlocked position is a position such that the top surface of theslider 11 does not come into contact with the lock portion 43 during theslide movement of the slider 11 in engagement with the rail member 42.

As described above, the lock portion 43 in the locked position protrudespast a predetermined surface extending along the slide direction (i.e.,the bottom surface of the rail member 42), as compared with the lockportion 43 in the unlocked position, thereby allowing the lock portion43 to interfere with the right controller 4 in the attached state. Thus,the lock portion 43 can assume a position where the right controller 4is locked and another position where the right controller 4 is notlocked (or not substantially locked).

In the present embodiment, the lock portion 43 is movable in a directionthat is substantially perpendicular to the slide direction. Even when aforce is applied that urges the slider 11 to move upward with respect tothe strap attachment 1, it is possible to reduce the possibility thatthe lock portion 43 is moved by such a force from the locked position tothe unlocked position. Thus, even when a force is applied that urges thestrap attachment 1 to be detached from the right controller 4, it ispossible to reduce the possibility that the strap attachment 1 comes offthe right controller 4.

In the present embodiment, the lock portion 43 is biased in thedirection from the unlocked position toward the locked position.Specifically, as shown in FIG. 15, the strap attachment 1 includes aspring 61 as a biasing member for biasing the lock portion 43. Beingbiased by the spring 61, the lock portion 43 is in the locked positionin a normal state (i.e., with no force being applied by a user, or thelike). This allows the lock portion 43 to continue to lock the rightcontroller 4 in the attached state (even without a user holding the lockportion 43, for example).

Note that there is no particular limitation on the mechanism for biasingthe lock portion 43, and mechanisms other than that shown in FIG. 15 maybe used in other embodiments. In other embodiments, the strap attachment1 may include a release button. The release button is configured to movein conjunction with the lock portion 43. Specifically, the releasebutton is configured so that the lock portion 43 moves to the unlockedposition in response to the release button being pressed. Then, a usercan press the release button to move the lock portion 43 from the lockedposition to the unlocked position. A user can move the lock portion 43by means of the release button, without having to operate the lockportion 43 itself, thereby improving the usability for the user.

As shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, the lock portion 43 includes a slope 43a that is sloped with respect to the bottom surface of the rail member42. The slope 43 a is a surface on the upper end portion (i.e., they-axis positive direction side) of the lock portion 43 that extendsupward while being inclined from the locked position toward the unlockedposition. Then, a user can easily move the lock portion 43 to theunlocked position by applying a force so as to push the slope 43 atoward the unlocked position (or downward). In the present embodiment,in the attached state, the right controller 4 is present beside (i.e.,on the x-axis negative direction side of) the lock portion 43. For this,the provision of the slope 43 a on the lock portion 43 makes it easierfor a user to put a finger between the lock portion 43 and the rightcontroller 4 and operate the lock portion 43.

Note that in the present embodiment, a depressed portion 43 b is formedon the slope 43 a of the lock portion 43. This allows a user to hold thedepressed portion 43 b with a finger or a fingernail, thus making iteasier to operate the lock portion 43. Also, with the provision of thedepressed portion 43 b, when the slider 11 of the right controller 4 isslid on the rail member 42, the second L button 21 and the second Rbutton 22 on the slider 11 are less likely to hit the lock portion 43.Thus, the slider 11 can be more smoothly slid on the rail member 42.

Note that in other embodiments, the strap attachment 1 does not need tohave the lock portion 43. Then, in the attached state, the projection 27of the right controller 4 engages with the rail member 42 of the strapattachment 1. Note that when the strap attachment 1 does not have thelock portion 43, the holding portion 41 b may be provided without therelease button contact surface 41 e and so as not to be in contact withthe release button 28 in the attached state. Then, the release button 28is not pressed in the attached state, enabling a firmer engagement ofthe projection 27 with the rail member 42. Note that in such a case, theholding portion 41 b is shaped so that a user can press the releasebutton 28 in the attached state.

(Attachment Operation)

FIG. 16 schematically shows an example operation of attaching the strapattachment to the right controller. Referring to FIG. 16, the operationof attaching the strap attachment 1 to the right controller 4 will nowbe described.

FIG. 16(a) shows a state before the slider 11 of the right controller 4is inserted into the rail member 42 of the strap attachment 1. In orderto attach the strap attachment 1 to the right controller 4, a userinserts the lower end of the slider 11 into the insertion port at theupper end of the rail member 42 as shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 16(b) shows a state in which the slider 11 is inserted into theinsertion port of the rail member 42. In the state shown in FIG. 16(a),the lock portion 43 is in the locked position, and a user moves the lockportion 43 to the unlocked position to allow the slider 11 to beinserted into the insertion port. A user may move the lock portion 43 tothe unlocked position using a finger, or may move the lock portion 43 tothe unlocked position by making the slider 11 contact the lock portion43. In the present embodiment, since the lock portion 43 has the slope43 a, a user can smoothly move the lock portion 43 to the unlockedposition by moving the slider 11 downward while the slider 11 is incontact with the lock portion 43.

After the slider 11 is inserted into the rail member 42, a user can movethe slider 11 further down the rail member 42 (in the downward directionin FIG. 16) to achieve the attached state between the right controller 4and the strap attachment 1. FIG. 16(c) shows the attached state. In theattached state, the lock portion 43 is no longer in contact with theslider 11, and the lock portion 43 therefore returns to the lockedposition by virtue of the spring 61. Then, the lock portion 43 blocks(at least a part of) the insertion port, interfering with the upper endof the slider 11. Thus, in the attached state, the lock portion 43 cangenerally prevent the right controller 4 from moving in the removaldirection.

(Detachment Operation)

FIG. 17 schematically shows an example operation of detaching the strapattachment from the right controller. Referring to FIG. 17, theoperation of detaching the strap attachment 1 from the right controller4 will now be described.

FIG. 17(a) shows the attached state. In the attached state, in order toremove the strap attachment 1 from the right controller 4, a user movesthe lock portion 43 to the unlocked position.

FIG. 17(b) shows a state in which the lock portion 43 has been moved tothe unlocked position. In the state in which the lock portion 43 hasbeen moved to the unlocked position, the lock portion 43 leaves open theinsertion port of the rail member 42. Then, as shown in FIG. 14(b), theupper end of the slider 11 is exposed through the insertion port, andthe lock by the lock portion 43 has been released. Since the slider 11can move upward with respect to the rail member 42 in this state, a usercan remove the strap attachment 1 from the right controller 4 by movingthe right controller 4 upward with respect to the strap attachment 1.

FIG. 17(c) shows a state in which the slider 11 has been moved upwardwith respect to the rail member 42. FIG. 17(c) is a state in which thestrap attachment 1 is being detached from the right controller 4. Byfurther moving the slider 11 upward with respect to the rail member 42from this state, the strap attachment 1 can be detached from the rightcontroller 4. Note that in this state, the lock portion 43 is in contactwith the slider 11 and cannot return to the locked position. Therefore,a user can perform the detachment operation with the user's hands offthe lock portion 43. After the strap attachment 1 is detached from theright controller 4, the lock portion 43 returns to the locked position.

Note that as described above, in the present embodiment, the releasebutton 28 of the right controller 4 is pressed by the release buttoncontact surface 41 e in the attached state, and the projection 27 of theright controller 4 does not (substantially) engage with the rail member42 of the strap attachment 1. Therefore, a user can perform thedetachment operation without having to press the release button 28.

(3-4: Elements Regarding Strap)

FIG. 18 shows the entirety of an example strap attachment including astrap. As shown in FIG. 18, the strap attachment 1 includes the strap65. The strap 65 is a cord-like member such as a cord or a rope, and hasa loop shape. As described above, the strap 65 is put on the wrist whena user holds a strap-attached controller device.

In the present embodiment, the strap 65 is fixedly fastened to thehousing 41. Specifically, a shaft portion is provided inside the housing41 (specifically, on a lower portion of the housing 41). As shown inFIG. 18, a hole 41h is provided in the housing 41 (specifically, theholding portion 41 b). The strap 65 is hooked on the shaft portion,extending out of the housing 41 through the hole 41 f. Thus, in thepresent embodiment, the strap 65 can be fixedly fastened to the housing41. According to the present embodiment, the strap 65 can be securelyfastened to the housing 41.

Note that in other embodiments, the strap attachment 1 may be configuredso that the strap is removably attachable to the strap attachment 1.That is, the strap attachment 1 may include a strap anchor to which astrap can be fastened, instead of a strap (or in addition to a strap).For example, the strap anchor may be provided on the housing 41 (morespecifically, on a portion of the housing 41 below the center thereof)and may include a hole. Then, a strap can be attached by passing thestrap through the hole. Note that in the present embodiment, the strap65 is fastened to the shaft portion, and the shaft portion is thereforeequivalent to the strap anchor. Note that in other embodiments, there isno particular limitation on the position of the strap anchor, and thestrap anchor may be provided at the center of the housing 41 or on aportion thereof above the center thereof.

As shown in FIG. 18, the strap 65 includes an adjustment 66 in thepresent embodiment. The adjustment 66 is a member used for adjusting thelength of the loop of the cord-like member of the strap 65.Specifically, the adjustment 66 includes an adjustment button 66 a.Although there is no particular limitation on the specific mechanism ofthe adjustment 66, in the present embodiment, the adjustment 66 can bemoved easily on the cord-like member of the strap 65 while theadjustment button 66 a is pressed, whereas the adjustment 66 can befixed (in other words, can be made less movable) on the cord-like memberof the strap 65 while the adjustment button 66 a is not pressed. Thus, auser can adjust the length of the loop of the cord-like member by usingthe adjustment 66 so that the strap 65 will not slip off the wrist.

Note that in other embodiments, a strap may be connected to the housing41 at two positions. For example, a strap may be connected to an upperend portion (i.e., the end portion on the y-axis positive directionside) and a lower end portion (i.e., the end portion on the y-axisnegative direction side) of the housing 41 (more specifically, theholding portion 41 b). Then, a user holds the strap-attached controllerdevice by putting the hand, finger or fingers, or wrist through betweenthe strap and the housing 41. Also in this way, as in the embodimentdescribed above, it is possible with the strap to control the distancebetween the user's hand and the strap-attached controller device withina predetermined range. Note that the strap may be a stretchable membersuch as a rubber, for example.

(3-5: Elements Regarding Buttons)

As shown in FIG. 9, the strap attachment 1 includes the first button 46and the second button 47. These buttons 46 and 47 are provided so as toallow the second L button 21 and the second R 22 button of the rightcontroller 4 to be operated when the strap attachment 1 is attached tothe right controller 4.

As shown in FIG. 9, the buttons 46 and 47 are provided so as to protrudefrom the button provision surface of the housing 41. The first button 46is provided at a position on the button provision surface on the lowerside of the center in the up-down direction (i.e., the y-axisdirection). The second button 47 is provided at a position on the buttonprovision surface on the upper side of the center in the up-downdirection.

The buttons 46 and 47 are biased to protrude from the button provisionsurface. Specifically, the first button 46 is biased by a springprovided inside the housing 41, and the second button 47 is biased by aspring provided inside the housing 41. When the button 46 or 47 is notpressed, the operation surface thereof (i.e., the surfaces on the x-axispositive direction side) is protruding from the button provision surfaceby a predetermined first distance. The button 46 or 47 can be pressed bya user up to such a position that the operation surface thereof is at apredetermined second distance (the second distance is shorter than thefirst distance) from the button provision surface.

As shown in FIG. 9, the first button 46 includes a first actuationportion 46 a. The first actuation portion 46 a is provided so as toprotrude toward the opposite side from the operation surface of thefirst button 46. The first actuation portion 46 a is configured so thatit can move in such a direction as to protrude from the surface oppositeto the operation surface, i.e., move from a first actuation position(FIG. 19(a)) to a second actuation position (FIG. 19(b)), in response tothe first button 46 being pressed. The second button 47 includes asecond actuation portion 47 a. The second actuation portion 47 a isprovided so as to protrude toward the opposite side from the operationsurface of the second button 47. The first actuation portion 47 a isconfigured so that it can move from a third actuation position to aforth actuation position in response to the second button 47 beingpressed. Each of the actuation portions 46 a and 47 a is a rod-shapedmember (see FIG. 20).

As shown in FIG. 10, holes 42 a and 42 b are provided in the rail member42. Although not shown in the figures, the engaging surface of thehousing 41 has holes at positions corresponding to the holes 42 a and 42b. The first actuation portion 46 a is provided so that the firstactuation portion 46 a can protrude from the bottom surface of the railmember 42 through the hole 42 a. The second actuation portion 47 a isprovided so that the second actuation portion 47 a can protrude from thebottom surface of the rail member 42 through the hole 42 b. The positionat which the first actuation portion 46 a protrudes from the bottomsurface is a position that substantially corresponds to the second Lbutton 21 of the right controller 4 in the attached state. That is, theposition at which the first actuation portion 46 a protrudes from thebottom surface is a position that corresponds to the position of thesecond L button 21 in the attached state and that is the same positionas the position of the second L button 21 in the attached state in theup-down direction (i.e., the y-axis direction) and the front-reardirection (i.e., the z-axis direction). Also with the second actuationportion 47 a, as with the first actuation portion 46 a, the position atwhich the second actuation portion 47 a protrudes from the bottomsurface is a position that corresponds to the second R button 22 of theright controller 4 in the attached state.

Note that the cross-sectional area of the actuation portion along thecross section perpendicular to the direction of protrusion(specifically, the cross-sectional area along the cross section parallelto the yz plane) is smaller than the area of the operation surface ofthe button on which the actuation portion is provided (see FIG. 19).Then, the holes 42 a and 42 b through which the actuation portions 46 aand 47 a pass can be made smaller than the operation surfaces of thebuttons 46 and 47. In other words, it is possible to increase the sizeof the buttons 46 and 47 for easier operations without increasing thesize of the holes 42 a and 42 b to be provided running through the railmember and/or the housing.

FIG. 19 schematically shows an example of how a button on the controlleris pressed by a button on the strap attachment. Note that although FIG.19 shows an example where the right controller 4 is attached to thestrap attachment 1 and the second L button 21 is pressed by the firstbutton 46, the above description holds true also for other cases (i.e.,where the second L button of the right controller 4 is pressed by thesecond button 47).

FIG. 19(a) shows a state in which the first button 46 is not pressed(the non-pressed state). In the non-pressed state, the first actuationportion 46 a protrudes only slightly from the bottom surface of the railmember 42. Therefore, the first actuation portion 46 a does not pressthe second L button 21. In the non-pressed state, the first actuationportion 46 a is not in contact with the slider 11 (specifically, the topsurface of the slider 11). Note that in other embodiments, in thenon-pressed state, the first actuation portion 46 a may be retractedinside the housing 41, without protruding from the bottom surface of therail member 42.

On the other hand, FIG. 19(b) shows a state in which the first button 46is pressed (pressed state). In the pressed state, the first actuationportion 46 a is protruding past the bottom surface of the rail member42. Then, the first actuation portion 46 a presses the second L button21. That is, in the attached state, a user can press the first button46, thereby in turn pressing the second L button 21.

As described above, in the present embodiment, even when the strapattachment 1 is attached to the right controller 4, a user can pressbuttons provided on the strap attachment 1 to thereby operate the secondL button 21 and the second R 22 button on the right controller 4 (whichare hidden by the strap attachment 1).

Note that when a user holds the strap-attached controller device usingboth hands, a user can operate the first button 46 and the second button47 using the index finger and/or the middle finger, for example. Thatis, a user can operate the buttons 46 and 47 using the same fingers asthose used when operating the second L button 21 and the second R button22 when the strap attachment 1 is not attached.

In the present embodiment, the area of the operation surface of a buttonon the strap attachment 1 (i.e., the first button 46 or the secondbutton 47) is greater than the area of the operation surface of a buttonon the right controller 4 (i.e., the second L button 21 or the second Rbutton 22). Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is easier for auser to press a button on the strap attachment 1 attached to the rightcontroller 4 than to directly press a button on the right controller 4.That is, it is possible to improve the controllability of the rightcontroller 4 by attaching the strap attachment 1 to the right controller4.

Note that in the present embodiment, the pairing button 23 provided onthe slider 11 of the right controller 4 cannot be operated by a userwhen the strap attachment 1 is attached to the right controller 4. Thisis because it is assumed that the pairing button 23 is a button usedwhen instructing a process regarding the wireless communication betweenthe right controller 4 and the main unit 2 and that the pairing button23 is not used while operating the right controller 4 (e.g., during gameoperations). Note that in other embodiments, a button corresponding tothe pairing button 23 may be provided on the strap attachment 1 so as toallow the pairing button 23 to be operated in the attached state.

FIG. 20 shows an example actuation portion. Note that while FIG. 20shows the first actuation portion 46 a shown in FIG. 9, the secondactuation portion 47 a has a similar shape to the first actuationportion 46 a.

FIG. 20(a) shows the first actuation portion 46 a as seen from thedirection of protrusion (i.e., from the x-axis negative direction side).As shown in FIG. 20(a), the first actuation portion 46 a has across-shaped cross section along a plane perpendicular to the directionof protrusion. Then, it is possible to reduce the volume of theactuation portion 46 a while maintaining the mechanical strengththereof. Note that in other embodiments, the first actuation portion 46a may have a cylindrical shape or a columnar shape, for example.

FIG. 20(b) shows the first actuation portion 46 a as seen from adirection perpendicular to the direction of protrusion (i.e., from they-axis negative direction side). As shown in FIG. 20(b), the tip of thefirst actuation portion 46 a has a curved surface (specifically, acurved surface such that the center thereof is protruding). Then, when abutton on the right controller 4 is pressed by the first actuationportion 46 a, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the buttonon the right controller 4 is damaged by the first actuation portion 46a. Even if a user attempts to remove the strap attachment 1 from theright controller 4 in a state in which the first button 46 or the secondbutton 47 is being pressed (i.e., a state in which a button on the rightcontroller 4 is being pressed by the first actuation portion 46 a or thesecond actuation portion 47 a), it is possible to reduce the possibilitythat the actuation portion 46 a or 47 a gets caught on the steps on theslider 11 (specifically, steps provided around the buttons 21 to 23).

(3-6: Elements Regarding Lightguide)

The strap attachment 1 includes elements for allowing a user to see thelight from the indicator LEDs of the controller attached thereto. Theindicator LED of each of the controllers 3 and 4 may be lit to indicatethe number assigned to the controller, or may be lit to indicate theremaining battery level of the controller. In such a case, with theelements described above, a user can see the light from the indicatorLED of the controller even if the strap attachment 1 is attached to thecontroller. This will be described below in detail.

As shown in FIG. 9, light-receiving ports 71 (i.e., holes in which thelight-receiving surfaces of a lightguide member 72 shown in FIG. 21 areprovided) are provided on the bottom surface of the rail member 42 (andthe engaging surface of the housing 41). The number of thelight-receiving ports 71 is equal to the number (herein, four) ofindicator LEDs 25 of the right controller 4. The light-receiving ports71 are provided at positions corresponding to the indicator LEDs 25 ofthe right controller 4 attached to the strap attachment 1. That is, thepositions of the light-receiving ports 71 are substantially opposing thepositions of the indicator LEDs 25 in the attached state, and are morespecifically the same positions as those of the indicator LEDs 25 in theattached state with respect to the up-down direction (i.e., the y-axisdirection) and the front-rear direction (i.e., the z-axis direction).

As shown in FIG. 9, light-exiting ports 73 (i.e., holes in whichlight-exiting surfaces of the lightguide member 72 are provided) areprovided on the housing 41. The light-exiting ports correspond to fourlight-receiving ports, and the number of light-exiting ports is equal tothe number (herein, four) of the light-receiving ports. In the presentembodiment, the light-exiting ports 73 are provided on the buttonprovision surface of the housing 41 (see FIG. 9). More specifically, thelight-exiting ports 73 are provided between the first button 46 and thesecond button 47. Note that in other embodiments, the light-exitingports 73 may be provided on any surface that is different from thebottom surface (in other words, the engaging surface) of the rail member42. For example, in other embodiments, the light-exiting ports 73 may beprovided on the front surface or the rear surface of the housing 41.

FIG. 21 shows an example of how light from indicator LEDs of a rightcontroller exits light-exiting ports of a strap attachment. As shown inFIG. 21, the strap attachment 1 includes the lightguide member 72 insidethe housing 41 (more specifically, the attachment portion 41 a). Thelightguide member 72 is a transparent member (specifically, a lens)formed from a resin, for example. The lightguide member 72 includes anumber of lenses equal to the number (herein, four) of thelight-receiving ports 71 and the light-exiting ports 73. In the presentembodiment, for easier production, the lightguide member 72 is anintegrally-molded piece including four lenses connected together. Notehowever that in other embodiments, the lenses may be provided asseparate pieces. As shown in FIG. 21, the lenses of the lightguidemember 72 are arranged so that the light-receiving surfaces (i.e.,surfaces on the x-axis negative direction side) are in the vicinity ofthe light-receiving ports 71, respectively, and the light-exitingsurfaces (i.e., surfaces on the x-axis positive direction side) are inthe vicinity of the light-exiting ports 73, respectively.

Note that in the present embodiment, the light-receiving surfaces of thelightguide member 72 are provided at positions sunken from the bottomsurface of the rail member 42 (in other words, at positions that arecloser to the center of the housing 41). Then, it is possible to reducethe possibility that the lightguide member 72 comes into contact withthe right controller 4 when inserting the slider 11 of the rightcontroller 4 into the rail member 42, thereby allowing the strapattachment 1 to be smoothly attached to the right controller 4.

As shown in FIG. 21, when an indicator LED 25 of the right controller 4emits light in the attached state, the light from the indicator LED 25enters the light-receiving surface of the lightguide member 72 throughthe light-receiving port 71 opposing the indicator LED 25 that is lit.The lightguide member 72 guides light incident upon the light-receivingsurface to the light-exiting surface by virtue of internal reflection,and the light exits the light-exiting surface. Thus, light is outputfrom the light-exiting port 73.

Note that in other embodiments, the lightguide member 72 may be anymember capable of guiding light incident upon the light-receiving port71 to the light-exiting port 73. For example, in other embodiments, thelightguide member may be a mirror provided on the wall of the holesconnecting between the light-receiving ports 71 and the light-exitingports 73.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the strap attachment 1includes a lightguide portion (herein, the lightguide member 72) forguiding light incident on a light-receiving port 71 provided on thebottom surface of the rail member 42 to a light-exiting port provided ona surface (herein, the button provision surface) different from thebottom surface. Then, even when the strap attachment 1 is attached tothe right controller 4, the light from an indicator LED 25 of the rightcontroller 4 can be presented to a user, as when the strap attachment 1is not attached to the right controller 4. By the provision of thelightguide portion, it is possible to present to a user informationindicated by the indicator LEDs 25 of the right controller 4 to whichthe strap attachment 1 is attached using a simple configuration (e.g.,as compared with an embodiment in which the strap attachment 1 receivesinformation regarding indicator LEDs 25 from the right controller 4 soas to control indicator LEDs 25 of the strap attachment 1 based on thereceived information).

Note that in the present embodiment, the light-exiting ports 73 areprovided on the button provision surface of the housing 41 (see FIG. 9).Then, the orientation of the light-exiting ports 73 of the strapattachment 1 attached to the right controller 4 is the same as theorientation of the indicator LEDs 25 of the right controller 4, and itis therefore possible to present light from the light-exiting ports 73in such a manner that the light is easy for a user to see.

In the present embodiment, the light-exiting ports 73 are provided onthe button provision surface between the first button 46 and the secondbutton 47 (see FIG. 9). Then, the positional relationship between thetwo buttons 46 and 47 and the light-exiting ports 73 on the strapattachment 1 can be made the same as the positional relationship betweentwo buttons (i.e., the second L button 21 and the second R button 22)and the indicator LEDs 25 on the right controller 4. Then, a user canoperate the right controller 4 in the same fashion whether or not thestrap attachment 1 is attached to the right controller 4, thus improvingthe controllability of the controller when the strap attachment 1 isattached thereto. Moreover, even when a user is operating the buttons 46and 47, light from the light-exiting ports 73 is easy to see for theuser.

In the present embodiment, light from a plurality of indicator LEDs 25of the right controller 4 is output from a plurality of light-exitingports 73 corresponding respectively to the indicator LEDs 25. Therefore,in the present embodiment, a user can recognize which one or ones of theindicator LEDs 25 are lit.

Note that in other embodiments, the strap attachment 1 may include onelight-receiving port and one light-exiting port even though the rightcontroller 4 includes a plurality of indicator LEDs 25. Then, when anyof the indicator LEDs 25 of the right controller 4 is lit, light isoutput from the light-exiting port of the strap attachment 1. Then,although it is not possible to indicate which one of the indicator LEDs25 of the right controller 4 is lit, it is possible to indicate to auser that at least one of the indicator LEDs 25 is lit. Depending on thecontent of information to be indicated by indicator LEDs 25 to a user,this configuration may suffice.

Note that in other embodiments, partitions may be provided between aplurality of light-receiving ports (in other words, a plurality oflight-receiving surfaces) arranged next to each other. Then, it ispossible to reduce the possibility that light from one indicator LED isincident upon another light-receiving port that is different from thecorresponding light-receiving port, and it is possible to reduce thepossibility that light is output from a light-exiting surface that doesnot correspond to the indicator LED that is lit.

4. Functions/Effects and Variations of Present Embodiment

In the embodiment described above, the strap attachment 1 is anattachment attachable to a game controller (e.g., the right controller4). Note that the game controller has a controller-side slide portion(e.g., the slider 11) on which controller-side first operation buttons(e.g., the second L button 21 or the second R button 22) are provided.

The strap attachment 1 includes the following elements:

-   -   a strap;    -   an attachment-side slide portion (e.g., the rail member 42) on a        first surface (e.g., the engaging surface) of the attachment,        the attachment-side slide portion having a first side of a        center of the attachment-side slide portion and a second side of        a center of the attachment-side slide portion opposite to each        other in a predetermined slide direction (e.g., the y-axis        direction shown in FIG. 9), wherein the attachment-side slide        portion is configured to slidably engage with a controller-side        slide portion in the slide direction, and wherein the        controller-side slide portion is insertable into the        attachment-side slide portion from the first side (e.g., the        y-axis positive direction side shown in FIG. 9);    -   a lock portion (e.g., the lock portion 43) on the first side of        the center of the attachment-side slide portion and configured        to resist the slide movement, in a removal direction opposite to        the insertion direction, in a state in which the controller        slide portion has been inserted into the attachment-side slide        portion, thereby attaching the game controller to the        attachment; and    -   an attachment-side first operation button (e.g., the first        button 46 or the second button 47) on a second surface (e.g.,        the button provision surface) on a reverse side from the first        surface.

The attachment-side first operation button includes a first actuationportion (e.g., the first actuation portion 46 a or the second actuationportion 47 a shown in FIG. 9) configured to be movable in such adirection as to protrude from the first surface, thereby pressing acontroller-side first operation button, in response to an operation ofpressing the attachment-side first operation button.

As described above, with the slide portion of the attachment and theslide portion of the game controller engaged with each other, a user caneasily detach the attachment (including the strap) from the gamecontroller. That is, it is possible to easily detach the strap from thegame controller.

The term “slide member” may refer to the rail member or the slider asused in the embodiment described above. Note that in the embodimentdescribed above, a slide member provided on the strap attachment 1 and aslide member provided on the controller are referred to as a “railmember” and a “slider”, respectively, so that these members can easilybe distinguished from each other. The shape of the rail member and thatof the slider are not limited to those of the embodiment describedabove. For example, a slide member having a cross section shaped asshown in FIG. 11 may be referred to as a “slider”, and a slide memberhaving a T-shaped cross section as shown in FIG. 7 may be referred to asa “rail member”.

Note that in the embodiment described above, the rail member, which isan example slide member, is provided on the engaging surface of thehousing 41, and is configured to have the bottom surface portion, theside surface portion and the opposing portion. In other embodiments, thehousing and the rail member (in other words, the slide member) may beconfigured as follows. That is, the strap attachment 1 may include amember A (e.g., a housing without the engaging surface described above)forming a part of the housing and including an opening, and a member B(e.g., the rail member 42 described above) including the bottom surfaceportion, the side surface portion and the opposing portion. Then, thebottom surface portion of the member B is connected to the member A soas to cover at least a portion of the opening of the member A. With sucha configuration, the surface of the bottom surface portion of the memberB corresponds to the “first surface” described above, and the sidesurface portion and the opposing portion of the member B correspond tothe “rail member” described above. Thus, the rail member may not havethe bottom surface portion. For example, the strap attachment 1 may beconfigured so that the rail member includes the side surface portion andthe opposing portion (while not including the bottom surface portion),wherein the side surface portion is connected to the engaging surface ofthe housing.

According to the above description, since the attachment includes theactuation portion, a user can operate operation buttons on the gamecontroller by pressing the operation buttons provided on the attachmenteven if the attachment is attached to the game controller.

According to the above description, since the attachment includes thelock portion, it is possible to reduce the possibility that theattachment comes off the game controller as a result of thecontroller-side slide portion, which has been inserted into theattachment-side slide portion, moving in the removal direction.

Note that “resisting (the slide movement)” as used herein means limiting(in other words, generally preventing) the slide movement throughengagement between one member and another member. Note however that“resisting (the slide movement)” means to prevent the slide movementwith a force less than a certain level, and means that the slidemovement may be allowed when a force greater than a certain level isapplied (thereby releasing the engagement).

It can be said that the strap attachment 1 of the embodiment describedabove is an attachment attachable to a game controller (e.g., the rightcontroller 4) having a controller-side slide portion (e.g., the slider11). The strap attachment 1 includes the following elements:

-   -   an attachment-side slide portion (e.g., the rail member 42) on a        first surface (e.g., the engaging surface) of the attachment,        the attachment-side slide portion having a first side of a        center of the attachment-side slide portion and a second side of        a center of the attachment-side slide portion opposite to each        other in a predetermined slide direction (e.g., the y-axis        direction shown in FIG. 9), wherein the attachment-side slide        portion is configured to slidably engage with a controller-side        slide portion in the slide direction, and wherein the        controller-side slide portion is insertable into the        attachment-side slide portion from the first side (e.g., the        y-axis positive direction side shown in FIG. 9);    -   a lock portion (e.g., the lock portion 43) on the first side of        the center of the attachment-side slide portion and configured        to resist the slide movement, in a removal direction opposite to        the insertion direction, in a state in which the controller        slide portion has been inserted into the attachment-side slide        portion, thereby attaching the game controller to the        attachment; and    -   a strap anchor (e.g., the shaft portion provided inside the        housing 41) to which a strap can be fastened, wherein the strap        anchor is a portion of the attachment which portion is on the        same side of the center of the attachment in the slide direction        as the second side.

Then, by engaging the slide portion of the attachment with the slideportion of the game controller, a user can easily detach the attachment(including the strap) from the game controller. If a strap is fastenedto the strap anchor of the attachment, a user can detach the attachmentfrom the controller, thereby removing the strap from the controller,without having to remove the strap from the attachment. That is, it ispossible to easily detach the strap from the game controller.

(Variation Regarding Housing)

In the embodiment described above, the housing 41 of the strapattachment 1, in the attached state, opposes the side surface and thereverse surface (in other words, covers the side surface and the reversesurface) of the right controller 4. In other embodiments, there is noparticular limitation on the shape of the housing of the strapattachment. For example, as in a variation to be described below, thehousing of the strap attachment may be attached to the controller so asto oppose one predetermined surface of the controller.

FIG. 22 shows an example strap attachment according to a variation ofthe embodiment described above. In FIG. 22, a strap attachment 80 ofthis variation includes a housing 81. The housing 81 has a shape similarto that of the attachment portion 41 a of the housing 41 in theembodiment described above. Note that the housing 81 has the rearsurface (i.e., the surface on the z-axis positive direction side). Thehousing 81 also has the engaging surface and the button provisionsurface as does the attachment portion 41 a of the housing 41 in theembodiment described above.

The strap attachment 80 of this variation is different from the strapattachment 1 of the embodiment described above in that the strapattachment 80 does not have the holding portion 41 b (including elementsprovided on the holding portion 41 b). Otherwise, the strap attachment80 is similar to the strap attachment 1. That is, the strap attachment80 includes the rail member 42, the lock portion 43, the buttons 46 and47, the strap 65 and the lightguide member 72. Note that the strapattachment 80 does not need to include the terminal 55.

With such a configuration, the strap attachment 80 is attachable to theright controller 4 as is the strap attachment 1 of the embodimentdescribed above. FIG. 23 shows an example of how the strap attachment ofthe variation is attached to the right controller.

As described above, the configuration of the slider 11 of the rightcontroller 4 is similar to that of the slider of the left controller 3in the embodiment described above. Therefore, in the embodimentdescribed above, the rail member 42 of the strap attachment 1 canslidably engage not only with the slider 11 of the right controller 4but also with the slider of the left controller 3. Note however thatsince the strap attachment 1 includes the holding portion 41 b, if oneattempts to attach the strap attachment 1 to the left controller 3, theanalog stick of the left controller 3 hits the holding portion 41 b, forexample, and it is therefore not possible to attach the strap attachment1 to the left controller 3.

In contrast, the strap attachment 80 of this variation does not have anelement corresponding to the holding portion 41 b, and it can thereforebe attached not only to the right controller 4 but also to the leftcontroller 3. FIG. 24 shows an example of how the strap attachmentaccording to the variation is attached to the left controller. Note thatas shown in FIG. 23 and FIG. 24, the direction of the strap attachment80 is reversed between when the strap attachment 80 is attached to theleft controller 3 and when the strap attachment 80 is attached to theright controller 4.

Note that whether the strap attachment 80 is attached to the leftcontroller 3 or the right controller 4, the strap attachment 80 can lockthe controller by means of the lock portion 43.

In this variation, the rail member 42 may include no cut-out portion C1(or substantially no cut-out portion C1) in the opposing portion 53. Inthis variation, since the strap attachment 80 does not include theholding portion 41 b and does not include the release button contactsurface 41 e, the release button 28 of the right controller 4 is notpressed in the attached state. Therefore, when the rail member 42includes the cut-out portion C1, the projection 27 of the rightcontroller 4 engages with the cut-out portion C1. Accordingly, in orderto remove the strap attachment 80 from the right controller 4, a userpresses the release button 28.

In contrast, when the rail member 42 includes no (or substantially no)cut-out portion C1, the projection 27 does not engage (or does notsubstantially engage) with the rail member 42 in the attached state, anda user does not need to press the release button 28 in order to removethe strap attachment 80 from the right controller 4. Thus, when the railmember 42 has no cut-out portion C1, a user can more easily remove theattachment.

In this variation, two surfaces between the engaging surface and thebutton provision surface (i.e., the front surface and the rear surface;in other words, the surface on the z-axis negative direction side andthe surface on the z-axis positive direction side) are marked withdifferent marks. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 23, the front surface ofthe housing 81 is marked with a plus mark 82 representing “+”, and therear surface of the housing 81 is marked with a minus mark 83representing “−”.

These marks 82 and 83 are provided so that a user can recognize theorientation of the strap attachment 80 to be attached to the twodifferent controllers 3 and 4. That is, when the strap attachment 80 isattached to the right controller 4, which has a “+”-shaped button 17 onthe primary surface, the plus mark 82 prompts a user to attach the strapattachment 80 so that the front surface of the housing 81 marked withthe plus mark 82 is facing the same direction as the primary surface ofthe right controller 4 (see FIG. 23). When the strap attachment 80 isattached to the left controller 3, which has a “−”-shaped button on theprimary surface, the minus mark 83 prompts a user to attach the strapattachment 80 so that the rear surface of the housing 81 marked with theminus mark 83 is facing the same direction as the primary surface of theleft controller 3 (see FIG. 24). Thus, it is possible to present to auser, in an easy-to-understand manner, the orientation of the strapattachment 80 to be attached to the controller 3 or 4.

Note that in other embodiments, other methods of distinction may be usedin addition to (or instead of) the marks 82 and 83. For example, inother embodiments, the front surface side and the rear surface side ofthe housing 81 may different from each other in appearance (e.g., color,pattern or texture (specifically, the present/absence of a luster)). Theappearance of the primary surface of the left controller 3 may be thesame as (or similar to) that of the front surface of the housing 81, orthe appearance of the primary surface of the right controller 4 may bethe same as (or similar to) that of the rear surface of the housing 81.

(Variation Regarding Lock Portion)

FIG. 25 shows an example lock portion according to a variation of thepresent embodiment. As shown in FIG. 25, in other embodiments, the lockportion 43 may have a projection 43 c at the upper end portion thereof(i.e., the end portion on the y-axis positive direction side). Thisallows a user to hold the projection 43 c with a finger or a fingernail,thus making it easier to operate the lock portion 43. Note that theprojection 43 c is provided so as to extend in the front-rear direction(i.e., the z-axis direction), for example. This makes it easier for auser to hold the projection 43 c with a finger or a fingernail.

In the embodiment described above, the strap attachment 1 is anattachment that is attachable to a game controller including acontroller-side slide portion. The strap attachment 1 includes thefollowing elements:

-   -   an attachment-side slide portion on a first surface of the        attachment, the attachment-side slide portion having a first        side of a center of the attachment-side slide portion and a        second side of the center of the attachment-slide portion        opposite to each other in a predetermined slide direction,        wherein the attachment-side slide portion is configured to        slidably engage with the controller-side slide portion in the        slide direction, and wherein the controller-side slide portion        is insertable into the attachment-side slide portion from the        first side;    -   a lock portion on the first side of the center of the        attachment-side slide portion and configured to generally        prevent a slide movement, in a removal direction opposite to the        insertion direction, of the controller-side slide portion in a        state in which the controller-side slide portion has been        inserted into the attachment-side slide portion, thereby        attaching the game controller to the attachment;    -   a terminal portion (e.g., the terminal 55) on the second side of        the center of the attachment-side slide portion, with a surface        thereof facing the first surface being exposed, configured to be        electrically connected to a terminal of the game controller with        the attachment attached thereto; and    -   a battery configured to supply power to the game controller via        the terminal.

With such a configuration, with the slide portion of the attachment andthe slide portion of the game controller engaged with each other, a usercan easily remove the attachment (including the battery) from the gamecontroller. The attachment having such a configuration may or may notinclude a strap (or a strap anchor).

As described above, the embodiment described above is applicable to anattachment that can be attached to a game controller, for example, withthe aim of making it easier to remove a strap, for example.

While certain example systems, methods, devices and apparatuses havebeen described herein, it is to be understood that the appended claimsare not to be limited to the systems, methods, devices and apparatusesdisclosed, but on the contrary, are intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An attachment which is attachable to a game controller including a controller-side slide portion, the attachment comprising: an attachment-side slide portion on a first surface of the attachment, the attachment-side slide portion having a first side of a center of the attachment-side slide portion and a second side of the center of the attachment-slide portion opposite to each other in a predetermined slide direction, wherein the attachment-side slide portion is configured to slidably engage with the controller-side slide portion in the slide direction, and wherein the controller-side slide portion is insertable into the attachment-side slide portion from the first side; a lock portion on the first side of the center of the attachment-side slide portion and configured to generally prevent a slide movement, in a removal direction opposite to an insertion direction, of the controller-side slide portion in a state in which the controller-side slide portion has been inserted into the attachment-side slide portion, thereby attaching the game controller to the attachment; and a strap anchor on a portion of the attachment which is on the same side of the center of the attachment in the slide direction as the second side, wherein a strap is attachable to the strap anchor.
 2. The attachment according to claim 1, further comprising a housing with a hole, wherein: the strap anchor includes a shaft inside the housing; and the attachment further comprises the strap fastened to the shaft and extending out of the housing through the hole.
 3. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein the lock portion is at an end portion on the first side of the attachment-side slide portion.
 4. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein the lock portion engages with an end portion of the controller-side slide portion of the game controller with the attachment attached thereto.
 5. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein: the lock portion is configured to move between a first position and a second position in a direction different from the slide direction; and the lock portion in the first position protrudes more than the projection in the second position, thereby engaging with the game controller with the attachment attached thereto.
 6. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein: the lock portion is configured to move between a first position and a second position in a direction different from the slide direction; at the first position, the lock portion blocks at least a part of an insertion port on the first side of the attachment-side slide portion; and at the second position, the lock portion leaves open the insertion port on the first side of the attachment-side slide portion.
 7. The attachment according to claim 5, wherein the lock portion is configured to move in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the slide direction.
 8. The attachment according to claim 5, further comprising a biasing portion that biases the lock portion in a direction from the second position to the first position.
 9. The attachment according to claim 5, wherein the lock portion includes a slope at an end portion on the first side that is sloped in a direction from the first position to the second position while extending toward the first side.
 10. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein the lock portion includes a projection at an end portion on the first side.
 11. The attachment according to claim 1, further comprising: a bottom surface portion having a bottom surface extending from the first surface in a direction away from the first surface; and an elastic member on the bottom surface.
 12. The attachment according to claim 11, wherein the elastic member is on the bottom surface on an opposite side from the attachment-side slide portion with respect to a center of the bottom surface.
 13. The attachment according to claim 11, wherein the game controller comprises: a reverse surface that opposes the bottom surface when the attachment is attached to the game controller; a primary surface on an opposite side from the reverse surface; and one or more operation section in a area of the primary surface, wherein the elastic member is at a position opposing an area corresponding to the area of the primary surface on the reverse surface of the game controller with the attachment attached thereto.
 14. The attachment according to claim 1, further comprising a terminal portion on the second side of the center of the attachment-side slide portion, with a surface thereof facing the first surface being exposed, wherein the terminal portion is electrically connected to a terminal of the game controller with the attachment attached thereto.
 15. The attachment according to claim 1, further comprising: a terminal that is configured to be electrically connected to the game controller; and a battery configured to supply power to the game controller via the terminal.
 16. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein the attachment-side slide portion is a rail member that extends along the slide direction.
 17. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein the attachment-side slide portion is metal.
 18. The attachment according to claim 1, further comprising: a controller-side first operation button on the controller-side slide portion; and an attachment-side first operation button on a second surface which is on a reverse side of the first surface; wherein: the attachment-side first operation button includes a first actuation portion configured to move from a third position to a forth position, thereby pressing the controller-side first operation button, in response to an operation of pressing the attachment-side first operation button.
 19. The attachment according to claim 18, wherein an area of an operation surface of the attachment-side first operation button is larger than an area of the controller-side first operation button.
 20. The attachment according to claim 18, wherein a tip of the first actuation portion has a curved surface.
 21. The attachment according to claim 18, wherein the first actuation portion has a cross-shaped cross section along a plane perpendicular to a direction from the first position to the second position.
 22. The attachment according to claim 18, wherein opposite end portions of the second surface in the slide direction are each a rounded curved surface.
 23. The attachment according to claim 18, further comprising: a light-receiving port on a bottom surface of the attachment-side slide portion; a light-exiting port on a surface of the attachment different from the bottom surface of the attachment-side slide portion; and a lightguide portion configured to guide light incident upon the light-receiving port to the light-exiting port.
 24. The attachment according to claim 23, wherein the light-exiting port is on the second surface.
 25. The attachment according to claim 23, further comprising: a controller-side second operation button on the controller-side slide portion; and an attachment-side second operation button on the second surface, wherein: the attachment-side second operation button includes a second actuation portion configured to move from a fifth position to a sixth position, thereby pressing the controller-side second operation button, in response to an operation of pressing the attachment-side second operation button; and the light-exiting port is on the second surface between the attachment-side first operation button and the attachment-side second operation button.
 26. A control system comprising a game controller and an attachment which is attachable to the game controller, wherein: the game controller includes: a controller-side slide portion: the attachment includes: an attachment-side slide portion on a first surface of the attachment, the attachment-side slide portion having a first side of a center of the attachment-side slide portion and a second side of the center of the attachment-slide portion opposite to each other in a predetermined slide direction, wherein the attachment-side slide portion is configured to slidably engage with the controller-side slide portion in the slide direction, and wherein the controller-side slide portion is insertable into the attachment-side slide portion from the first side; a lock portion on the first side of the center of the attachment-side slide portion and configured to generally prevent a slide movement, in a removal direction opposite to an insertion direction, of the controller-side slide portion in a state in which the controller-side slide portion has been inserted into the attachment-side slide portion, thereby attaching the game controller to the attachment; and a strap anchor on a portion of the attachment which is on the same side of the center of the attachment in the slide direction as the second side, wherein a strap is attachable to the strap anchor. 